Son charged with murder after death of Lanell Latta in Avalon home

A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder after his mother's body was found in their home in the leafy suburb of Avalon, on Sydney's northern beaches.

Officers discovered the body of Lanell Latta, 50, at the home on Marine Parade in Avalon about 10.45am yesterday, after being called to reports of an injured woman.

Police will allege Ms Latta had been fatally stabbed.

Her son, 25-year-old Joel Woszatka, was later arrested in nearby Ruskin Rowe. He was taken to Manly Police Station and was last night charged with murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Woszatka was refused bail and will appear in the Manly Local Court today. 

He and Ms Latta had been renting the home in the exclusive suburb.

Mr Woszatka had reportedly been living in the garage. Police are investigating whether drugs may have been involved in the incident.

Neighbour Georgia Westwood told 9NEWS she could hear a scream from her balcony.

"I saw a man running down the road but I didn't really think anything of it," she said.

Other residents and friends described Ms Latta as a "lovely person" and a "wonderful, devoted and loving mother".

The home is owned by model Gemma Ward, 29, and her husband David Letts, who purchased the property for $1.6 million last year. The young family have rented it out while living with Letts' parents in Newport.

Ward and Letts told the Daily Telegraph that the discovery of the body was "heartbreaking".

"My heart goes out to the family and all involved in this tragedy," Ward said.

Letts said: "She was such a sweet woman, it's just a tragedy".

An online real estate listing reveals the internal layout of the two-bedroom oceanfront home, which was advertised for a six-month lease at $750 per week from October last year.

Ward made a splash in the fashion industry from a young age, making her debut at the Australian Fashion Week aged 15.

She famously dated Australian actor Heath Ledger in 2007, spending Christmas together in Perth before heading to New York where the actor died on January 22, 2008.