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
WARNING: Contains graphic content
Police are working to solve the mystery of how a woman’s body found tightly wrapped and buried in a concrete block wall in Brisbane “months ago” came to be there.
The grim discovery of human remains was found by cleaners in the garage of a block of units in the Brisbane suburb of Alderley at about 10.45am on December 7.
Forensic examiners confirmed on Friday the remains belonged to a woman.
The cleaners were reportedly upset and traumatised by the shocking discovery.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters on Wednesday the woman’s body was found “very tightly wrapped” and covered in clothing and bedding, which is believed to have concealed the smell.
“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 confirmed the human remains found in a unit complex in Alderley in Brisbane’s north were female. Photo / NCA NewsWire / John Gass
Unsuspecting residents didn’t know about body
Superintendent Massingham said the residents living at the unit block had not reported any smell or any other suspicion.
He said it was “quite concerning” that the body had gone unnoticed for “some months” but understood that the body’s preservation prevented any smell from raising an alarm.
Residents living in the housing complex where the woman’s body was found are trying to navigate living above an active crime scene.
A crime scene was set up in the garage of the block of units, blocking residents from access to their bins and cars as police continue their investigation.
One resident was spotted left holding bags of his rubbish waiting for police to direct him to where he could leave them.
But with the bins as part of the cordoned-off crime scene, the man was told to leave his rubbish under the stairs to be dealt with at a later time.
Investigators were seen examining the rubbish bins stored within the garage space and other parts of the open-aired garage space.
Cars have also been locked away from their owners as police continue their investigation.
Residents living in the building where a body was found hidden in the garage are unable to access their bins and cars as police continue their investigation. Photo / NCA NewsWire / John Gass
What happens next
Officers are working to identify the person and the circumstances surrounding their death.
Superintendent Massingham said it would take some time for police to complete their investigation.
“These types of homicide investigations can be complex and lengthy,” he said.
“I believe it may take some time to identify who this person is, their cause of death, and of course, the causation relating to the death of this person may take some time.
“We currently have dozens of missing person reports that we are going through that have already commenced at the Hendra station.”
An investigation centre has been set up at the Hendra police station.
Detectives have interviewed current tenants and sought information from previous tenants about the comings and goings at the property over the previous months.
