A tightly wrapped body which was partially buried and covered in clothing and bedding was found under a unit complex in Alderley in Brisbane’s north. Photo / NCA NewsWire / John Gass
A tightly wrapped body which was partially buried and covered in clothing and bedding was found under a unit complex in Alderley in Brisbane’s north. Photo / NCA NewsWire / John Gass
The body of a woman found by cleaners, “very tightly wrapped” in the garage of an apartment building has been buried beneath rubbish and clothing for up to seven years, according to police.
Today Australian Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters the body, which had been unveiled in a block of units in Alderley, Queensland on December 7, had likely been there since November of 2015.
However, he said police and forensic examiners believe the woman’s time of death could date back as far as 2009.
“We can place the body, with a high degree of confidence here, in the position it was found back in November 2015.
“As to their location prior to that, it is unclear as to whether they were here or they were in another location or moved here prior to November 2015.
“[Further] to that, the time of death for this person could extend out to 2009, and once again, I have a fair degree of confidence in the evidence that we’ve found that gives us that timeline.”
He said police were in the process of tracking down all past and current residents of the apartment block, which was built in 2006.
Investigations and forensic testing are ongoing, but police believe the woman was between the ages of 30-55 at her time of death, was caucasian with dark brown hair, between 155 and 165cm tall, and wore size 10 clothing and prescription glasses.
Police have confirmed the human remains found in a unit complex in Alderley in Brisbane’s north were female. Photo / NCA NewsWire / John Gass
“I appeal to people not only in the Alderley area, but in the greater Brisbane area and even further than that; if they have any information relating to a female that fits this description, that may have been a colleague, a friend, an associate that simply disappeared, for you to contact Crime Stoppers.
“It’s important that we give this lady a voice, that we identify her.”
He said police were treating it as a “suspicious death” and revealed there was trauma to the woman’s body.
Superintendent Massingham previously said the body was found covered in clothing and bedding, which is believed to have concealed the scent of her decomposing remains.
“Whoever … has put the person there has attempted to conceal the body fairly unsuccessfully,” he said.
“[They] have taken great care to wrap the body up in a certain way and preserve it.
“They’ve also transported it to an area that’s not readily accessible.
“Whether it was their intention to leave it there, or come and get it at some later time and they simply haven’t, is part of what we’ll be looking at.”
Police have also released video of their investigation, which depicts body cam footage of the officers at the scene after the gruesome discovery was made.
They also noted there had previously been “disturbances” at the unit block that had been reported to police. However, after investigation, none of them “came to fruition” in relation to the discovery of the woman.
Superintendent Massingham said police were exploring several lines of inquiry, but it was important to share information now in the hopes of identifying the victim.
“This is an unusual event, but I’m hopeful with community support and obviously further investigation, then forensically we can get to where we need to be.”
He said investigations could extend across Australia, and technology could play a part in identifying the woman.
Australian police and forensic examiners believe the woman’s time of death could date back as far as 2009. Photo / NCA NewsWire / John Gass
“Obviously we can’t exclude the fact that [the investigation] may need to go overseas if need be,” Superintendent Massingham said.
“There’s all sorts of things that we could look at it in the future once the DNA aspect is looked at.
