A 36-year-old man has been taken into custody by police, concluding an extensive manhunt launched after the body of a woman was discovered at a rural property in southeast Queensland.
Discovery of the Body and Missing Person Report
The incident began when officers performed a welfare check at a residence on Waterford Tamborine Road in Buccan. This action followed investigations into the disappearance of a 46-year-old woman from Ashgrove. A family member had reported her missing around 1am on Monday, stating her disappearance was highly unusual. She was last seen at The Gap, approximately 5km from Ashgrove in north Brisbane, at about 7pm on Saturday.
During the welfare check, conducted at approximately 3.15am on Monday, police found the woman deceased at the Buccan address.
Police Search and Dramatic Arrest
Authorities immediately began searching for a 36-year-old man, described as a resident of the house for whom the woman was a carer. Detective Acting Inspector Justin Anderson urged the public not to approach the man but to contact Crime Stoppers, also appealing directly to the man to come forward.
The pursuit moved interstate when the man was located in New South Wales. NSW Police attempted to stop his vehicle on the Pacific Highway in Coffs Harbour, but the driver allegedly failed to pull over. This initiated a high-speed pursuit which ended when the car crashed into a culvert on Stuarts Point Road in Yarrahapinni, roughly 80km from Coffs Harbour.
The man was subsequently arrested in Kempsey, about 465km south of Buccan, at around 2pm (AEST) on Monday.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
The 36-year-old was taken to Kempsey Police Station and charged with several driving offences, including police pursuit, driving dangerously, and driving while his licence was suspended. He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear at Bail Division Court on Tuesday.
Detectives from the Logan District Criminal Investigation Branch and the Homicide Investigation Unit will travel to NSW to interview the man regarding the woman's death. Police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
This remains an active investigation as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the tragic discovery.
