A murder suspect has been formally charged in connection with the death of a mother whose body was discovered in the Brisbane River seven months ago.
Crystal Beale, a resident of Brisbane, Australia, was found deceased in the Brisbane River in Yeronga on February 22 by a member of the public.
Prior to her tragic demise, Crystal had been dining with her ex-partner and son in the southern region of Brisbane. The trio was together until approximately 9:30 pm when Crystal exited a vehicle in Brisbane’s West End.
Surveillance footage captured Crystal, aged 49, wearing beige sandals and a white dress at a restaurant, believed to be the last sighting of her before her demise.
Following extensive investigations, a man has been charged by detectives from Dutton Park Criminal Investigations Branch and the Homicide Investigation Unit with the alleged murder of Crystal Beale.
According to a police statement, “Operation Xray Saba was initiated to reconstruct the events of that night and Crystal’s life leading up to the alleged murder.”
The statement further details that on the evening of February 21, Crystal left a family gathering at a Sunnybank restaurant with a 49-year-old man from West End, known to her, and was last seen exiting the man’s vehicle in West End at 9:30 pm.
Detectives have dedicated significant efforts, reviewing over a thousand hours of CCTV footage and making numerous appeals for information to seek justice for Crystal.
The police allege that the man from West End murdered Crystal and disposed of her body in the Brisbane River, where it was subsequently discovered. Following thorough investigations, the man was arrested at an address in Maudsland and charged with murder and misconduct with a corpse.
Detective Inspector Wayne Francis emphasized the profound impact such crimes have on families and communities, expressing determination to provide answers and seek justice for Crystal over the past seven months.