Grim find in grassy area

Cooktown woman dead

A NEIGHBOUR who had been mowing her yard first alerted police to the grim discovery of a “well-known” Cooktown woman’s body in a grassy area between the two homes, police have revealed.

A crime scene has been declared as officers investigate the sudden death of the 38year-old woman, who was well-known within the small community.

The cause of her death has not yet been determined.

The woman had lived at the property with her partner, who is assisting police with their inquiries, for about five years.

No charges have been laid and the woman’s partner is not accused of any wrongdoing.

On Friday, Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said the woman’s partner had been taken to Cooktown Hospital by an ambulance on Monday morning after reportedly being bitten by a snake.

The woman’s body was later found on Monday evening by the neighbour while she was mowing in a grassed area close to a water course.

The two properties back on to one another and there is no fence separating them.

The woman’s body was found laying in the grass, uncovered.

On Thursday detectives from the Cooktown Criminal Investigation Branch were at the Bradbury St property.

A police spokesman said police were called to the address around 5pm on February 6. It is believed the woman died on Sunday evening before being found on Monday by the neighbour.

When asked if the death was being treated as suspicious, Det-Insp Chetham said “it is a sudden death and we still don’t know the full circumstances at this point in time ... we have put all of our specialist resources into it in an effort to determine exactly what happened.”

Det-Insp Chetham said officers were also talking to people they believed could provide information in relation to the case, including one person who was returning from being at sea.

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage in the area at the time is urged to contact police immediately.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24-hours per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au and quote reference number: QP2300219709