Queensland Police detectives investigating the suspicious death of an unknown woman are appealing for public assistance after her remains were located at Alderley in December.
The skeletal remains were located at approximately 10.45am on December 7th by maintenance workers at an Alderley Avenue address – officers say the bones were partially buried at the unit complex.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham, Regional Crime Coordinator, Brisbane Region said a crimescene was declared and Operation Uniform Pepperina established to investigate the circumstances of the woman’s death, including establishing her identity.
“This is an extremely complex investigation – to try and trace the movements of an as yet unidentified woman from at least seven years ago, is extraordinarily challenging. We also have to try and identify this woman from skeletal remains, which requires forensic expertise and knowledge from different scientific fields, which is clearly a very detailed and protracted process,” he said.
“Investigations have revealed the woman has been deceased for at least seven years and her body is believed to have been at the unit block where she was located in early December, for that period of time.
“We believe she was aged between 30 and 55-years-old and likely died sometime between 2009 and 2015 and although her remains have been found here, at this time we can’t determine if she was killed here or elsewhere.”
Det Supt Massingham said extensive forensic examinations have confirmed the remains to be of a Caucasian woman, approximately 155-165cms tall, who wore size 10 clothing, had dark brown hair and wore prescription glasses.
He said investigations and review of missing persons reports, both in Queensland and nationally, have so far failed to identify the woman.
“We know that the unit complex was built in 2006 and investigators have spoken to current tenants/owners and are tracking previous tenants/owners, to speak with them. We have also canvassed local residents and businesses but clearly many people would have moved into and out of Alderley Avenue and the local area over this time period.”
“We are appealing to anyone who lived in Alderley Avenue or the general area during the relevant time period, who may have knowledge of the woman, or who may have lost contact with a woman as described below and thought “I wonder what ever happened to” or “Strange, no one has heard from” to contact us.
“Families or friends from anywhere in Australia, who have also lost contact with a woman fitting the description and timeframes are asked to contact us. Any little bit of information could hold the key to a break-through for investigators.
“We are committed to finding out who this woman is. Who she is, why she died and who is responsible. She deserves nothing less and neither do her family,” the detective said.
Investigations by North Brisbane and Homicide Investigation Unit detectives continue with an Incident Centre located at Hendra Police Station for Operation Uniform Pepperina.
