Police hope a recent discovery will help shed light on the mysterious death of Queensland mother Crystal Beale, whose body was recovered from the Brisbane River in February.
The 49-year-old Sunshine Coast woman was last seen by her former partner on the night of February 21 after being dropped off at Ryan Street in West End. Her body was found the next morning by a passer-by at Yeronga.
Now, with officers locating one of Crystal’s sandals in nearby shrubbery on Ryan Street and several other personal belongings in Orleigh Park, detectives are piecing together the final hours of her life.
“The crucial question we’re trying to answer is how Crystal made her way from Ryan Street to the Brisbane River,” said Detective Acting Inspector Watts.
“This incident occurred on a Friday evening in West End, and it’s about a kilometre from where she was last seen to where her belongings were recovered at Orleigh Park.
“If Crystal walked that route, parts of it should have been picked up by CCTV — but so far, no eyewitnesses or footage have confirmed this.”
Investigators have reviewed more than 1,000 hours of CCTV and interviewed Crystal’s ex-partner, family, and friends. Police suspect she was assaulted before her body was dumped in the river.
“Everyone we’ve spoken to described Crystal as a devoted mother of two, well known in the Sunshine Coast community, with no clear reason for this to happen to her,” Mr Watts said.
“This is an active homicide investigation, and both the family and police are seeking answers.”
On the evening of February 21, Crystal had dinner with her former partner and their son in Sunnybank before they drove to a property in Annerley. She was then dropped off in West End. CCTV footage shows her getting out of the vehicle in Annerley — the last confirmed sighting of her alive on camera.
Mr Watts urged the public to come forward with any information that might assist in the investigation.
“Even small details that people might dismiss as insignificant could be the key piece we need to resolve this case,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
