Search for a killer: body of toddler Sanaya Shaib found in Darebin Creek

• One of the saddest things I've ever seen
• Police search for toddler missing from park

Forensic investigators and homicide detectives have spent four hours in the Melbourne family home where toddler Sanaya Shaib had been staying before she was killed. 

The mother of Sanaya  left her uncle's house escorted by welfare workers to help detectives in their investigation into the 15-month old's death.

Sofina Nikat (centre) is led away to assist police with their enquiries Photo: Channel Ten

Nearby, investigators scoured parkland for clues following the discovery of Sanaya's body in Darebin Creek at 2.45am on Sunday. 

Police are hunting a man Sanaya's mother, Sofina Nikat, said knocked her over and snatched her daughter from a blue and yellow pram in Olympic Park on Saturday. Detectives earlier said he was the only suspect and are appealing to anyone who saw the incident, the child or the pram to come forward.

A distraught relative confirmed that Ms Nikat had been escorted by police from the Heidelberg West home in the city's north.

Detectives and forensic investigators search the house in Perth Street. Photo: Penny Stephens

It is believed she was not taken to a police station but moved to another location. She has not been formally interviewed by police. One of the detectives was seen carrying her suitcase. 

At 4pm on Sunday, homicide detectives and a team of forensic investigators entered Ms Nikat's uncle house, where, according to a neighbour, Ms Nikat and her daughter had been staying for the past few days. Detectives also inspected the rubbish bins, which were later taken to the rear of the property.

Ms Nikat regularly visited the house following the acrimonious breakdown of the relationship with Sanaya's father.

Police have erected an orange tarpaulin where the body of a toddler was found in Darebin Creek at 2.45am on April 10, 2016. Photo: Arsineh Houspian

Forensic investigators and detectives did not leave the property until shortly before 8pm. A detective left the house carrying a paper bag labelled "disposable nappies" in black marker, while another detective was seen carrying two large brown paper bags of evidence. 

No charges relating to Sanaya's death have been laid but police.

The toddler's family were too devastated to talk to reporters, with Sanaya's grandfather Sheraz Shaib thanking the people who found Sanaya's body and reading out a statement.

"Sanaya will be missed by us all. She was a beautiful child who has been taken from us too soon," he said.

SES, Forensics and uniform Police do a line search along the bank of the Darebin Creek. Photo: Penny Stephens

Ms Nikat told police a man of African appearance followed her as she pushed Sanaya through Olympic Park in Heidelberg West in  a pram.

She and her daughter had been walking along the bike path behind Olympic Park Reserve and the stadium of Heidelberg United Soccer Club.

She said he then snatched the little girl from the pram after violently knocking her to the ground.

Sofina Nikat with her daughter Sanaya. Photo: Facebook

The toddler's body was found in Darebin Creek, about 200 metres from the Northland Shopping Centre and less than two kilometres from her uncle's house, where the the family had been staying.

Four people from a family motivated by memories of their own child going missing had joined the search and made the grim discovery.

Police are searching for the man, who is described as between 20 and 30 and about 1.8 metres tall. He was wearing black pants with a black hooded top with a zipper but no shoes and he smelled of alcohol.

Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said every available resource has been put into the case.

"We think it's completely random at this point in time," he said.

"We have no other suspects at this stage other than the person who is alleged to have abducted the child."

Police were awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination.