Paul Grapsas: Mystery surrounds the strange death of young father in Geelong who went out walking his dog and never came home

A loving father-of-two who was expecting a third child has been identified as the man found dead near his house in mysterious circumstances.

Paul Grapsas, 40, left his Western Beach Road home near central Geelong in Victoria about 11pm on Thursday to walk his dog. 

His pregnant wife Jessica awoke about 4am to find the dog had returned, but her husband hadn’t. 

After a short search outside she found his body next to his car on nearby Malone Street having sustained fatal head injuries.

Police remain baffled by the mysterious death and are seeking any witnesses to come forward.

Police have appealed to anyone who might have witnessed Ms Graspas out on Thursday night near intersection of Mercer and Malone streets, near where St Peter’s and St Paul’s Catholic Church Church is located (pictured)

In a statement issued on Sunday the family remembered Mr Grapsas ‘as a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend’. 

A heart-wrenching post on Ms Grapsas’s Facebook Page shows the family Father’s Day with the couple eating outside with their two young girls.

‘We love all you are and all that you are growing to be. It was a lovely day celebrating you in the sunshine!’ Ms Grapsas writes about the joyous occasion. 

Sunday’s statement said Mr Grapsas ‘was happiest when surrounded by his family, friend and church community’. 

It says the devoted father had just received a work promotion.

He was described as being ‘known and respected in the community, a skilled sportsman who loved golf, fishing and video games’. 

‘Paul will be dearly and desperately missed by all those he loved and who loved him,’ the statement ends.

Homicide squad detectives are urging anyone who saw the man walking his dog or heard anything suspicious between 11pm on Thursday and 4am on Friday to contact them.

They also want people with CCTV or dashcam footage to provide it to police.

Jessica (pictured left) and Paul Grapsas celebrate Father’s Day with their two young girls