The family of Lourdi Ramadan, found dead alongside her partner in a suspected murder-suicide on the Gold Coast, is appealing for financial assistance to repatriate her body to Melbourne. The 48-year-old woman's remains were discovered concealed in a wooden chest at the Labrador apartment she shared with Craig Bouma, 53, whose body was also found at the scene.
Police were called to the unit on Friday after concerned relatives raised the alarm. Officers found Bouma's body with a note, and Ramadan's body hidden in the chest, where it is believed to have been for over a week. Bouma, who was Ramadan's partner and carer, is suspected of killing her before taking his own life.
Ramadan's brother, Alex Ramadan, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of bringing his sister's body to Victoria and giving her a proper farewell. 'Unfortunately my beautiful sister Lordy had her life cut short,' he wrote. 'Trying to raise some money to help my elderly parents cover the costs of bringing her body home to VIC and giving her the farewell she deserves.'
Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said the couple was not known to police, and there were no domestic violence orders in place. 'There is a suggestion that the male person was also a carer for the female person, so one of the lines of investigation is into the medical condition of the female person,' he said. Police are treating the deaths as suspicious, with early indications pointing to Bouma being responsible for Ramadan's death.
Alex Ramadan expressed anger over the contents of Bouma's note, which reportedly stated he wanted to end her pain and suffering. 'It doesn't give him the right to do that,' he told the Courier Mail. The family became worried after not hearing from Ramadan for several days, and her brother described the loss as devastating. 'It's a big loss, big loss in our lives and life won't be the same again – no chance,' he said.
