Major Crime detectives find woman’s body in shallow grave in Flinders Ranges, man charged

A Kurralta Park man is due to face court today after allegedly leading detectives to a shallow grave near Hawker.

A man will appear in court charged with the murder of a female aged-care worker, whose body was discovered buried in a shallow Outback grave.

Major Crime detectives made the grim discovery on Monday in the Flinders Ranges, near Wilpena Pound, almost three days after the woman, 21, disappeared from her workplace.

Court documents obtained by The Advertiser reveal the murder happened “at Parachilna or other places” some time between March 4 and March 8.

The victim’s body was found buried at Moralana Creek, about 40km north of Hawker on Monday afternoon.

Parachilna is about 60km north from where her body was found.

Her distraught Adelaide-based relatives told The Advertiser they were grieving the “missing person” from their western suburbs home at Flinders Park.

A family spokesman, who asked the victim not to be named, said: “We are missing a piece of our family from the dining room table.”

Friends also paid tribute to the woman, a carer who was studying nursing after arriving in Adelaide from overseas.

Described as hardworking, quiet and friendly, she was last seen at the south western suburban nursing home where she worked.

Major Crime detectives and forensic police excavate and examine a shallow grave in the Flinders Ranges, north of Hawker, where the body of a missing woman was found. Picture: SA Police

The shallow grave by a gum tree discovered by Major Crime detectives in the Flinders Rangesat Moralana Creek, about 40 kilometres north of Hawker. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Police at the care home in the western suburbs, where the woman worked. Picture: Andrew Hough / The Advertiser

“She was an amazing woman, just really friendly to everyone,” said one friend.

A man, 20, whose relationship to the victim remains unclear, was in police custody hours after allegedly leading detectives to her Moralana Creek gravesite, 40km north of Hawker.

The officer in charge of the Major Crime Investigation Branch, Detective Superintendent Des Bray, said the man “denied any responsibility whatsoever in her death” despite knowing the location where her body was buried.

The man, of Kurralta Park, is due to appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court Tuesday, charged with murder and failing to report a death to the Coroner.

After examining the scene overnight, Superintendent Bray said police and forensic officers discovered the woman’s body after 15 minutes of digging just after 2pm, in a “tranquil” Outback setting, about 420 km north of Adelaide.

Police excavate the spot where the woman was buried. Picture: SA Police

Superintendent Bray expressed his sadness for the family, who were spoken to by detectives with a victim support officer.

“I haven’t spoken to them but, if it was my family, I would be completely devastated and I think they would be the same,” he said.

An autopsy will determine how and when the woman died. It remains unclear where exactly she was killed but detectives are focusing their efforts on finding the vehicle used to transport her.

The site of what police believe is a shallow grave in the Flinders Ranges, north of Hawker. Picture: Nine News

Major Crime detectives and forensic police at what they think is a shallow grave in the Flinders Ranges, north of Hawker. Picture: Nine News

“Detectives are interested in several vehicles and investigations are occurring in the city and hopefully that will narrow down our inquiries,” Superintendent Bray said.

“We should be able to identify the vehicle that was used to transport her.”

The pair’s relationship – if he was a boyfriend or they had separated – is yet to be confirmed by police.

The alarm was raised over the weekend after the woman’s car was found abandoned at the Southern Cross Care Bucklands Residential Care home on Marion Road, North Plympton. Her car also has been seized.

She was last seen after finishing her shift at 10pm last Friday.

“After that, we have no confirmed sightings whatsoever,” Superintendent Bray said. The woman’s aunty lodged a missing person report at the Hindley Street police station on Saturday.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray speaks to the media in Hawker. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

No public missing person’s alert was issued as detectives investigated her disappearance.

On Sunday, Southern District CIB and Major Crime detectives interviewed the man, who then allegedly agreed to reveal where she was buried.

Police say they accompanied him to a site he identified on the eastern side of The Outback Highway, 100m from the road, where officers located a shallow grave in a dry creek bed filled with soft dirt.

The ground had been levelled off to remove any sign of the grave but Superintendent Bray said it was “obvious” to crime scene experts that someone had been buried there.

A tyre with the words “No camping” painted on it was seen resting against the tree next to the burial site.

Care home management referred inquiries to police, who yesterday interviewed her co-workers as officers also doorknocked neighbours.

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au