A major investigation has been initiated by New South Wales Police after the body of a woman was found in a car parked directly outside a police station, where it is believed she had been deceased for approximately three days.
Discovery and Initial Timeline
Officers from the Lake Illawarra Police District made the grim discovery at around 4:30pm on Friday, 5 December 2025. The vehicle was situated on Pioneer Drive in Lake Illawarra, immediately outside the local police station. Paramedics from NSW Ambulance attended and assessed the 48-year-old woman, but she could not be revived.
Early evidence indicates the woman's body had been inside the locked vehicle since approximately 6:30pm on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. Police reported the body was in an advanced state of decomposition, a condition likely accelerated by a period of hot weather leading to exceptionally high temperatures inside the car.
CCTV Footage and Station Visit
Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar addressed the media, revealing that closed-circuit television footage showed the woman had entered the Lake Illawarra police station on the Tuesday afternoon. She engaged with officers and spent time in the station foyer before leaving and returning to her vehicle around 6:30pm.
"It does appear the woman had been living inside that vehicle," Assistant Commissioner Cassar stated. He confirmed that determining the nature of her interaction with police—whether she was seeking help or reporting an incident—will be a key part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigation and Independent Review
The incident has been declared a critical incident. The investigation will be conducted by the South Coast Police District to ensure impartiality. The case will also be subject to an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and oversight by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Police are still working to formally identify the woman and notify her next of kin. The establishment of a critical incident team underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the circumstances surrounding her death, particularly given its proximity to a police facility.
