Woman found dead in Mosman unit

A VIVACIOUS and successful finance executive may have lay dead in her Sydney apartment for up to four days before her body was discovered.

Police have launched a murder investigation after paramedics found the body of Kate Malonyay, 32, a general manager with Challenger Financial Services, inside her unit on McLeod St, Mosman, on the north shore, about 1.45pm on Monday.

The Daily Telegraph understands the alarm was raised after she failed to turn up for work and friends couldn't reach her on the phone. A relative yesterday said she had been "strangled" inside the ground-floor unit.

Police are conducting an extensive victim profile as they attempt to piece together how and why Ms Malonyay, who grew up at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast, died.

"She was a beautiful, beautiful young lady," a relative, who asked not to be named, told The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Malonyay's mother is understood to have arrived in Sydney yesterday to identify her body - her brother, who teaches in Spain, was also flying home.

The well-liked young woman, who had a boyfriend, had moved from the Central Coast to "the big smoke" several years ago after her father died.

"She was just at that age to move away from Avoca Beach," the relative said.

Detectives and uniformed police conducted detailed searches of McLeod St, along with nearby Trumfield Lane and Musgrave St. Several items were recovered, including a set of four keys and a Fitness First gym membership card, in bushes.

Inquiries were being made by police with the gym to confirm whether the card belonged to Ms Malonyay.

Officers cordoned off the garage of the unit and crime tape was used to cover five bins inside the area.

Challenger CEO Brian Benari said Ms Malonyay had been a valued member of his finance company for three years and was well liked by staff.

"All of Kate's friends and colleagues at Challenger are deeply shocked and saddened by the news," a statement said.

"Kate worked for Challenger for three years and was a much-liked and valued member of staff. Nothing was ever too much trouble for Kate. She will be remembered for her sense of humour, easygoing nature and professionalism. Our thoughts are now with her family."

Friends also took to Facebook to express their sorrow and were still coming to grips last night with the sudden, unexplainable and tragic news.

"Can't stop tearing up thinking I won't get the chance to tell you how much I love you and how very special you are to me - preying (sic) this horrid news is wrong," one friend, Kane, wrote in a tribute.

Another said: "I can't believe. Someone would hurt you Kate malonyay you were so sweet and a beautiful. May her soul rest in peace.