Kristie Powell’s badly battered body was discovered outside her bedroom at her Lorking Street home about 1.10am Friday. 

She died only a few metres from the bedroom where her five-month-old son was sleeping. The baby was found unharmed. 

In March, Ms Powell told friends she could no longer answer calls from private phone numbers because she had a stalker.

She explained the man was mentally unwell and had become “obsessed” with her about two years ago. He sometimes sent her more than 100 messages a day, including many that said “die Kristie die”, she said. 

Despite this, she said there was nothing police could do, as the man had never approached her home and had not been deemed a serious threat.  

She told friend she mostly found the man amusing but that he needed serious help, and wasn’t getting it from a mental health system that continually released him.   

Detective Inspector Brad Ainsworth said it was a friend of the deceased woman who had found her body and dialed triple-zero. 

It is unclear how long she lay undiscovered. 

“She had a significant amount of blood on her and was pronounced deceased,” Insp Ainsworth said.  

“There were definite signs of physical injury to her. 

“I would say there could be [a weapon used] but there’s nothing more I can say about.”  

With no one else immediately able to care for the baby boy, NSW Ambulance paramedics took him to Wollongong Hospital. 

He has since been released into the care of grandparents. 

The Mercury understands Ms Powell was a sole parent to the boy. 

Earlier this year she had expressed excitement to friends, telling them she was “making” her own baby, after giving up on romantic relationships. 

The Mercury understands Ms Powell was close to her family and was relying on their support in rearing the child. 

Homicide squad detectives are this morning at the property, which is undergoing a crime scene examination.

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Detectives have canvassed the neighbourhood – a quiet street with well-maintained houses and many long-term residents, a short distance from Bellambi Public School. Residents contacted by the Mercury said they slept through their neighbour’s ordeal. 

Some spoke of the “lovely” woman they’d recently seen walking along the street with a pram. 

The Mercury understands Ms Powell had lived at the address for about six years. 

Police will look to CCTV footage taken from the area as part of their investigation. 

Investigators are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine Ms Powell’s time of death.