A homicide investigation has been initiated following the discovery of a 49-year-old woman’s body in the Brisbane River. The deceased, identified as Crystal Beale, was located at Yeronga at approximately 5:40 am on Saturday, February 22. Initially, authorities believed her death to be non-suspicious; however, the post-mortem examination prompted the Queensland Police to shift their stance and pursue a homicide inquiry.
Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts has stated that investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the West End area of Brisbane, where Beale was reportedly seen during a night out prior to her death. It is believed she was in the vicinity of Orleigh Park and Ryan Street between 9:30 pm on Friday, February 21, and 1:00 am on Saturday. The police are urging anyone who may have witnessed her or observed any suspicious activity during this timeframe to come forward with information.
To assist in the investigation, the police have released a CCTV image of Crystal taken the night she was dining at a restaurant in Sunnybank. At the time, she was dressed in a long, form-fitting white dress and carried a brown leather shoulder bag. Descriptions provided by the police indicate that she was Caucasian, slim, approximately 165 cm tall, and had long brown hair.
Authorities are confident that there are individuals who observed Crystal on the night in question and that their information could be crucial for the investigation. The police are appealing for public assistance as they endeavour to gather more details surrounding her final movements and the circumstances leading to her death.