Brutal Vic murder probe gets more complex

An investigation into the brutal murder of an elderly woman in her Melbourne home just became more complex.

Vicki Ramadan, 77, was found dead on Saturday morning, having suffered injuries inside her Marlborough Way home at Sydenham, where she lived alone.

Investigators initially believed Ms Ramadan was last spotted alive on April 1, a five-day gap between a reported sighting and the discovery of her body.

However, police on Friday discredited that sighting and detectives are backdating their investigation.

They are calling for anyone who may have seen Ms Ramadan in March or April to come forward.

"It's a brutal attack, there's no other way to put it. A vulnerable 77-year-old woman living by herself, it really was an horrific attack," Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper previously told reporters.

"We know that there was a house that was frequented by squatters in the street.

"There's still a lot of unanswered questions that we want to get answers to, specifically around Vicki's movements."

Ms Ramadan frequently caught buses and taxis, and she was known to many local traders at Watergardens Shopping Centre.