Bluewater murder: Man arrested after mother’s body found in Townsville bushland

Police have arrested a man as they continue their homicide investigation into the death of a mother of four.

Police have arrested a man as part of their homicide investigation into the death of a mother of four in north east Queensland.

The 44-year-old woman’s body was found by a group of teenagers who were riding quad bikes on Sandy track in Bluewater near Townsville around 5pm Saturday.

Later on Sunday about 8:30pm, a 38-year-old Deeragun man was arrested without incident at a business near Main Street at Proserpine.

The man is in custody in Mackay and is assisting detectives with their inquiries.

The mother is yet to be formally identified by police.

The crime scene at Bluewater where the mother’s body was found. Picture: Leighton Smith

Police allege the mother, who has four children aged between 14 and 24, was found after less than a day, with authorities treating it as a homicide investigation.

“At this stage, we believe the body had been (left) on the track at some point in the previous 24 hours,” Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said on Sunday.

Police believe the woman died at the location her body was found at, with early indications suggesting she knew her attacker.

“This doesn’t appear to be a random attack on a stranger. They probably went to that location together,” he said.

Police said the alleged offender did not make an effort to conceal the body, making it easy for anyone along the track to see her.

“It is a small fishing village there, it is quite isolated, but there are vehicles that move up and down that road, so it’s possible there are witnesses,” Inspector Shepherd said.

The mother’s body was found by a group of teenagers who were riding their bikes. Picture: Daniel Shirkie

Authorities are trying to track down the woman’s movements over the past couple of weeks as they plan to carry out an autopsy.

“I can’t detail a cause of death, but we do have an idea of how it may have occurred, an autopsy will be carried out early in the week.” Detective Shepherd said

Investigators have also alleged the arrested 38-year-old man was involved in a separate incident on Sunday.

He was travelling south on the Bruce Highway near Yarlboroo around 11.30am when he allegedly pointed a shotgun at a passing motorist and fired one shot into the side of her vehicle.

The victim, who was not known to the man, was not physically harmed during the incident.

No charges have been laid over either incident.

The arrested man also allegedly fired a shot at a woman’s vehicle. Picture: Leighton Smith

Detectives from Townsville will travel to Mackay on Monday to continue their investigations.

Police are expected to provide a further update on Monday morning.

They have also advised that there is no ongoing threat to either the Bluewater or Yarlboroo communities.

Originally published as Bluewater murder: Man arrested after mother’s body found in Townsville bushland