Family of slain mother Ellie Price hold ceremony as manhunt for her suspected killer continues 

Ellie Price’s body of was found in her townhouse in South Melbourne on Monday afternoon, but police believe she was killed several days earlier

Heartbroken friends and family have gathered to pay tribute to a ‘beautiful and loving’ mother who was brutally killed inside her Melbourne home.

Ellie Price’s body of was found in her townhouse in South Melbourne on Monday afternoon, but police believe she was killed several days earlier. 

Mourners came together in her hometown of Hobart on Sunday where they released hundreds of pink to honour the 26-year-old dancer. 

Plumes of pink smoke – Ms Price’s favourite colour – travelled into the air as a V8 Commodore circled the cul de sac while mourners watched on.

‘This is for you, El,’ one person wrote in a post online. 

‘Love you Ellie,’ wrote another. 

Drivers risk a $2,800 fine or three months’ imprisonment if they are caught doing burnouts as it is an offence in Tasmania. 

A nationwide manhunt for her mafia-linked boyfriend Ricardo ‘Rick’ Barbaro continues after the grisly discovery of his on again-off again partner.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Barbaro killed Ms Price, only that he is wanted by police for questioning.   

Hundreds of pink balloons were released by her devastated loved ones were released into the sky on the suburban street

Plumes of pink smoke - Ms Price's favourite colour - travelled into the air as a V8 Commodore circled the cul de sac while mourners watched on

More than 40 of Ms Price’s family and friends gathered on Mother’s Day for a final send off in Hobart

Plumes of pink smoke - Ms Price's favourite colour - travelled into the air as a V8 Commodore circled the cul de sac while mourners watched on

Plumes of pink smoke – Ms Price’s favourite colour – travelled into the air as a V8 Commodore circled the cul de sac while mourners watched on

Ms Price’s devastated four-year-old son Mostafa spent Mother’s Day ‘wondering where mummy is,’ her cousin Rebecca Lehner said.

‘No kid should have to grow up without a parent. That poor little boy. How do you explain to a four-year-old that his mum isn’t coming home?,’ Ms Lehner told the Herald Sun.

Ms Lehner said her cousin tried to give Mostafa the best possible life she could while studying for a beauty diploma.   

She said that over Christmas, the family overheard Ms Price speaking lovingly on the phone to Barbaro, with whom she’d planned to settle down and buy a house. 

‘Ellie sounded happy, she was just her normal self. There were no red flags at the time I knew of,’ Ms Lehner said. 

Ms Price’s mother Tracey Gangell said spending Mother’s Day without her beloved daughter was heartbreaking. 

‘The pain… you don’t think it happens to you, you think it happens to everybody else but not you,’ she told 7News.

‘She thought [Barbaro] loved her,’ Ms Price’s grandmother Sherry Bradford added. 

The four-year-old son of Melbourne woman Ellie Price (left) asked where his mum is during his first Mother's Day without her. Pictured: Ms Price, 26, with her son Mostafa, four

The four-year-old son of Melbourne woman Ellie Price (left) asked where his mum is during his first Mother’s Day without her. Pictured: Ms Price, 26, with her son Mostafa, four 

Police fear Ms Price's body may have been there for close to a week. They only found her after they were called to the home to perform a welfare check

Police say Ms Price likely suffered a 'violent' assault on April 28 or 29 and may have been dead for up to five days before being found

The body of Ellie Price, 26, was found in her townhouse in South Melbourne on Monday afternoon, but police believe she was killed several days earlier 

Ms Price grew up in Tasmania and had planned to move back with her four-year-old son Mostafa.

Ms Gangell said not being able to protect her daughter will haunt her for the rest of her life.

‘I feel so bad because a mother is supposed to protect their kids and I didn’t protect her. I couldn’t be there to help her,’ she said through tears.

‘She lived for her son… My heart’s just broken into a million pieces for her little boy.’

Ms Bradford said they can now see Ms Price when they look in Mostafa’s eyes.

Mostafa has been living with Ms Gangell in Hobart after starting school this year. 

Ms Price would frequently fly down to see her son, even if it was just for the day.  

Dozens of bouquets of flowers were left outside Ms Price’s South Melbourne apartment, with her family taking to Facebook to share their grief.

‘Rest in paradise our beautiful Ellie. Love you then, loved you now, always loved you. Until we meet again,’ one post read.   

Ms Price’s luxury Mercedes-Benz was was found on Thursday night at Diggers Rest, northwest of Melbourne, and it will undergo forensic testing.

Police said Ms Price likely suffered a ‘violent’ assault on April 28 or 29 and may have been dead for up to five days before her body was found.

The hunt for 33-year-old Barbaro continues, with detectives from the homicide squad, fugitive taskforce and other police units searching for him.

Anyone who sees Barbaro should not approach him but call triple zero or Crime Stoppers.

A nationwide manhunt for mafia figure Ricardo 'Rick' Barbaro continues after the grisly discovery of his on again-off again partner

A nationwide manhunt for mafia figure Ricardo ‘Rick’ Barbaro continues after the grisly discovery of his on again-off again partner 

Police believe Barbaro could be travelling in his white 2009 Toyota Hiace van, with registration 1OZ 8PC. 

Barbaro’s stepmother Anita, who is married to Barbaro’s father Joe, said the situation was devastating and passed on her condolences to Ms Price’s family.

‘Firstly to Ellie and her family, words cannot describe the heartache we have for you all, especially for her little boy, we can’t possibly imagine how he must now face life and continue living without his Mummy,’ she said in a statement to 9News.

‘Ricky, we’re extremely worried about you, we’re in complete disbelief as we know you to be the man who is gentle and loving, you’re a great father and brother to all.

‘Ricky Son, if you’ve done anything wrong please come forward and do the right thing for the sake of this poor young woman and family, and the incomprehensible pain they must be suffering, you need make contact with somebody.’ 

Barbaro is described as 185cm tall with a solid build, black hair and olive complexion.

Ms Price's luxury Mercedes-Benz was was found on Thursday night at Diggers Rest, northwest of Melbourne, and it will undergo forensic testing

 Ms Price’s luxury Mercedes-Benz was was found on Thursday night at Diggers Rest, northwest of Melbourne, and it will undergo forensic testing

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