Body of missing woman hidden inside wheelie bin
The search for the remains of Queensland woman Lesley Trotter continues after police find “strong evidence” that her body was put in a wheelie bin near her home before being collected by a rubbish truck.
The 78-year-old had been missing since March 27, sparking alarm when her family members reported that she was not home and had left her mobile phone and wallet behind.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told reporters on Tuesday that the body, believed to be Trotter’s, was placed in the general waste bin on Maryvale St on March 28.
“It was evident at that time that the person we believe is Ms Trotter was deceased,” he said.
“Due to the positioning of the body, I can’t rule out foul play at this stage.”
Massingham did not elaborate on the extent of her injuries or how police knew about the positioning of Trotter’s body, given that they are still searching for her remains.
Massingham also revealed that the bin was collected by a rubbish truck scheduled for that morning, which was then taken to Nudgee Waste Transfer Station, where the rubbish was dropped into a pit.
“An additional 22 trucks also visited the site on that Tuesday,” he said.
“The loads from each of those trucks was compressed and then was taken away from the facility in six B-double semi-trailers.”
He added that the rubbish was then taken to dump sites in Rochedale and Swanbank, which are now being quarantined.
Massingham said that police currently have no suspects, despite having conducted interviews over the weekend.
They are also planning an extensive search this week to recover Trotter’s remains, with detectives expecting it to be a “difficult operation”.
Massingham added that once Trotter’s body is recovered, they will forensically examine it to “try find any piece of evidence” which will help them determine her cause of death.
Forensic samples- reportedly including blood- were collected from Trotter’s unit complex and a neighbouring unit complex, although Massingham said that the relevance of these samples “are not yet clear and may be unrelated to this matter”.
“This is obviously a disturbing development,” Massingham said, adding that Trotter’s family members have been informed.
“This is traumatic to them. I think this is confronting for them, the nature ... would be concerning for any family, particularly a lady of that age ... looking forward to the next chapter of her life.”
Police were investigating a possible link between Trotter’s disappearance and her recycling habits, after it was revealed that her neighbours had complained about her taking rubbish out of wheelie bins and leaving it on the ground.
However, Massingham has stressed that this was only “one aspect” of the investigation.
Images: Queensland Police, 7News