A man has been formally accused of committing murder seven months following the discovery of a mother’s body in the Brisbane River.
Crystal Beale, a resident of Brisbane, Australia, was found deceased in the Brisbane River in Yeronga on February 22 at 5:40 am by a member of the public.
Prior to the tragic incident, Crystal had dinner with her ex-partner and son in the southern part of Brisbane. The trio was together until approximately 9:30 pm when Crystal exited a car in Brisbane’s West End.
Surveillance footage shows Crystal, aged 49, wearing beige sandals and a white dress at a restaurant. This is believed to be the last sighting of Crystal before her demise.
After seven months, authorities from Dutton Park Criminal Investigations Branch and the Homicide Investigation Unit have pressed charges against a man for the alleged murder of the 49-year-old woman.
According to a police statement, “Operation Xray Saba was initiated to reconstruct not only the events of that night but also Crystal’s life leading up to her alleged murder.”
Allegedly, on the evening of February 21, Crystal left a family gathering at a Sunnybank restaurant around 8:30 pm and traveled with a 49-year-old man from West End, known to her, to West End. The last reported sighting of Crystal was when she departed the vehicle at 9:30 pm on Ryan Street, West End.
Detectives undertook extensive investigations, reviewing over a thousand hours of CCTV footage and appealing for information to seek justice for Crystal.
It is claimed by the police that the 49-year-old man from West End murdered Crystal and disposed of her body in the Brisbane River where it was eventually discovered. Following thorough investigations, a search warrant was executed at an address on Equestrian Drive in Maudsland at 5:11 am on September 22.
A 49-year-old male was apprehended at the location and subsequently charged with murder (domestic violence offense) and misconduct with a corpse. He is scheduled to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
Detective Inspector Wayne Francis emphasized the devastating impact of such crimes on families, friends, and the community, stating, “It is unforgivable what happened to Crystal. Our detectives have been tirelessly pursuing all leads over the past seven months to provide closure for her family. We were unwavering in our commitment to uncover the truth and secure justice for Crystal.”
