A police cruiser was seen circling a Dartmouth neighbourhood today after a resident was murdered on the weekend.

Melinda Ross was likely one of the last people to see 27-year-old Christine Kathleen Cline before her body was found in Shubie Park Saturday morning.

Ross says she saw Cline Friday night, and she received a text message from her, but that was the last time she heard from her.

"She was a good friend," says Ross. "The kids played together all the time. She didn't deserve it. She was a good person. She was a good mom."

A man discovered Cline's body in an area of the park known as Vivian's Way around 10:30 a.m. Saturday and called police.

Police say they aren't certain whether she was killed in the park, or if she was brought there after, but they do confirm she was murdered.

Investigators say they located and seized Cline's red van from a residential area in Dartmouth which will help with their investigation.

"We did come across the vehicle last night shortly after the supper hour and it was taken into custody for our forensic identification unit to examine," says Const. Brian Palmeter, a spokesman with Halifax Regional Police.

Neighbours say the vehicle was sitting in the parking lot of an apartment building, not far from where Cline lived on Roleika Drive.

"It's tough," says family friend Eric Eisner. "Especially the kids are pretty young. It's not easy. I think a lot of people know the family, know the kids are pretty shaken up by it."

Neighbours say Cline's husband moved out of their home a few months ago, and another woman moved in with her daughter. They also say Cline had three children.

"She was very nice," says neighbour Jacqui Wells. "She was a very good mom. I hope her kids are safe."

Police say Cline was not known to them, and they have not yet determined whether her murder was a random incident.

They also say they are hoping to speak with anyone who saw Cline on Friday so they can determine where she went that night, and what brought her to Shubie Park.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell