Detectives from the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit and Victoria police are investigating the suspicious death of a 46-year-old Victoria woman.

The woman’s body was found inside a duplex at 830-832 Queens Ave. about 5 p.m. Friday.

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It is the third suspicious death in Victoria in less than a month. Police are also investigating the deaths of Peter Hunter Thompson, 49, who was found dead in his Michigan Street apartment on Feb. 18, and Scott Owen Smith, 26, whose body was found in the Inner Harbour on March 5.

On Saturday, marked and unmarked police cars were parked in the laneway beside the dark green, raised heritage bungalow on Queens Avenue. Yellow police tape surrounded the duplex and an adjacent yard. Forensic officers searched inside, looking for evidence.

“All the teams are there and we’re looking to find out exactly what happened and what led to her death,” said Victoria police spokesman Const. Mike Russell.

No one had been taken into custody, Russell said.

He could not say whether detectives had interviewed anyone about the death.

Asked whether he believed the woman’s death would turn into a homicide investigation, Russell said he wasn’t sure yet.

“We’re relying on our experts with [the major crime unit] and our detectives to get to the bottom of it,” he said.

“We’re in the early stages of our investigation right now, so I’m sure we’ll have more information as this progresses.”

Russell did not expect any more information would be available before Monday.

Police did not receive a 911 call, but were called to the house, Russell said. Officers entered the home and found the woman’s body.

The constable said he wasn’t sure how many people lived in the duplex or whether they had been relocated. He was also unable to say if the deceased was known to police or if officers had been called to the house before.

It will be up to the investigators when the woman’s name will be made public.

Russell said there’s no reason to believe this death and the other suspicious deaths are linked in any way. “So we’re not going down that road right now. But certainly, [the investigators] are going to go where the evidence leads them.”

There’s no reason to believe the public is in danger, he said.

ldickson@timescolonist.com