Man charged with murder after mum’s body found in river
The alleged killer of a woman whose body was found in a river is due to face court after being charged with murdering the 49-year-old mother of two.
A man has been charged with murder, seven months after the body of a mother of two was found in a river.
Police had been appealing to the public for information after Crystal Beale, 49, was found dead in the Brisbane River on February 22.
Beale allegedly left a family dinner about 8.30pm the night before.
The last confirmed sighting was by her former partner an hour later in Brisbane’s West End, police said.
Officers later located one of Beale’s sandals in shrubbery in West End and several personal items at Orleigh Park near the Brisbane River.
Investigators also scoured more than 1000 hours of CCTV footage.
Detectives searched a home in the Gold Coast hinterland on Monday, where a 49-year-old male was arrested and charged with murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse.
He is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
Beale’s death had a devastating impact on family and friends, Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said.
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“Over the past seven months, detectives have been tirelessly investigating every avenue possible to find answers,” he said.
“We were not going to give up until we could provide these answers and get justice for Crystal.”
Police initially thought Beale’s death was not suspicious after her body was discovered by a rower in the early hours of February 22.
But a homicide investigation was launched following further investigations and a post-mortem.
Beale was believed to have been in the water for about six hours.
