CHILLING MURDER
Toyah Cordingley took her dog for a walk and did not make it home alive
TOYAH Cordingley’s tragic death on a secluded stretch of beach has stunned the Far North community.
The 24-year-old’s body was found early yesterday morning at Wangetti Beach, 42km north of Cairns, after she took her dog for a walk on Sunday afternoon.
Police are treating her death as suspicious and will start doorknocking the area today while the SES will search the beach for evidence.
TOYAH Cordingley, found murdered on a secluded beach, has been remembered as “a beautiful loving soul” who adored animals.
The 24-year-old’s body was discovered on Wangetti Beach 800m north of the southern access point about 7.45am yesterday after she was reported missing to police late Sunday evening.
It’s understood Ms Cordingley, who is a Cairns resident, had driven to the quiet beach, between Palm Cove and Port Douglas, with her dog about 2pm on Sunday for a walk.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said police were treating Ms Cordingley’s death as suspicious. “The circumstances of the matter at the moment clearly make this suspicious and we are conducting a murder investigation,” he said.
He said police would be doorknocking in the area today and the SES would search along the beach for clues this morning.
Sen-Sgt Kinbacher indicated that a cause of death would not be known until forensic and scientific examinations were finalised, which could take several days, but said “the circumstances clearly indicate that there is third-party involvement in (her death)”.
“It is critical that anyone who has concerns with anyone in regard to their behaviour on beaches recently and in recent months to come forward and tell us,” he said.
“This may be a culmination of a series of events that have occurred that we are not aware of.”
Sen-Sgt Kinbacher said Wangetti Beach was “quiet and less routinely visited than most beaches along the northern beaches”.
“I am not aware of any historical problems in this area, but there quite (sic) could be. There may be males in the area who have made women uncomfortable, who are behaving unusually, who are paying too much attention. Those sort of people, we want to hear about,” he said.
Sen-Sgt Kinbacher said police were also seeking CCTV footage from businesses between Smithfield and Craiglie, particularly those that monitor highway traffic.
“We’ll push that out as the investigation continues through to Port Douglas,” he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said the tragic incident had rocked the community.
“This is really shocking news. These types of incidents can really rock our quiet tropical paradise,” she said.
“Our shire is traditionally a very safe and welcoming tourism destination so the thought of something like this happening in our own backyard is deeply distressing.
“I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
“I can’t begin to imagine what they are going through.”
Anyone who may have been in or passed through the Wangetti Beach area on Sunday, or anyone with information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.