Investigation into death of Cairns woman and loyal volunteer Toyah Cordingley, 24
POLICE are seeking dashcam footage of the Captain Cook Highway between Smithfield and Port Douglas as they investigate the murder of Toyah Cordingley. Can you help?
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UPDATE: POLICE have extended their search for clues surrounding Toyah Cordingley’s alleged murder into the water.
Wangetti Beach, located about 42km south of Cairns, will remain a crime scene until at least tomorrow afternoon with SES crews carrying out forensic searches on the beach and in dense bushland.
Police divers have also be called in from Brisbane for assistance.
Detective Inspector of the Far North District Sonia Smith said police were treating the 24-year-old Cairns woman’s death as a homicide investigation.
“(The drivers are) searching for personal items,” she said.
“We do have a number of scientific officers at the scene conducting a forensic examinations.”
Ms Cordingley’s body was found on Monday morning after she had been reported missing by family late Sunday after taking her dog for a walk.
Det-Inspector Smith said more than 20 people have come forward so far to provide police with information in regards to the investigation.
“We have an open investigation, we have ruled nothing in and nothing out,” she said.
“That’s why we are appealing to the public today to generate more information so that we can identify Toyah’s movements and identify who was at those locations on Sunday afternoon.”
EARLIER: Detectives, general duties, scientific and scenes of crimes officers are part of an incident centre established at the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch as police investigate the suspicious death of Toyah Cordingley.
Ms Cordingley had been reported missing to police on Sunday night after failing to return home from an afternoon walk along the beach with her dog.
Her body was found on Wangetti Beach yesterday morning.
A crime scene remains in place at the beach and detectives from the State Homicide Group are helping with the investigation.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher has renewed his appeal for public assistance and is asking anyone with vision or dashcam footage of the carparks at Wangetti Beach or roads leading to and from the area to contact police.
“Preliminary investigations suggest Toyah attended Wangetti Beach at around 2pm on Sunday,” he said.
“She was walking a large brown dog and we are wanting to talk to everyone that attended Wangetti Beach on Sunday.
“We are particularly interested in anyone with dashcam footage taken between 2pm and 7pm on Sunday, October 21, travelling north or south on the Captain Cook Highway between Smithfield and Port Douglas.
“We are also interested in footage that may capture the southern or northern carparks of Wangetti Beach.”
Ms Cordingley’s dog was found safe.
YESTERDAY: Young animal lover Toyah Cordingley is being remembered as “the most beautiful, loving soul” as police launch a murder investigation into the 24-year-old’s death.
Ms Cordingley’s body was found at Wangetti Beach on Monday after worried family and friends took to social media in an attempt to find her.
She disappeared after taking her dog, which was later found unharmed, for a walk on Sunday afternoon.
Port Douglas Councillor Michael Kerr employed Ms Cordingley at his animal shelter Paws and Claws for more than a year and said he was devastated to hear news of her death.
“She was the most beautiful, loving soul. I knew her and her housemate when she was working for me,” Cr Kerr said.
“I was querying the details (of her disappearance) on Facebook before sharing (the post).
>> RELATED: Victim’s chilling messages on Facebook
“She was an absolutely loyal employee of Paws and Claws. She was one of the most beautiful souls. It’s tragic.
“She adored animals, she was on a different level with animals, than humans. She had something special with animals. Even the troubled dogs would calm down in her presence.”
Cr Kerr also expressed shock at a murder happening in the quiet, beachside suburb.
“You wouldn’t think of anything like that happening in Wangetti,” he said.
“There are a lot of a******* in the world, but when something like this happens to someone who is one of the most purest, beautiful people, it’s awful.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said Ms Cordingley drove to the beach between 2pm and 2.30pm yesterday to walk her dog.
He said anyone who saw anything suspicious yesterday or this morning should contact police.
“She was 800m north of the southern access point, and there are only two access points at Wangetti,” he said.
“She was between the foreshore and the start of bushland.
“This is not a highly frequented area. People notice each other at Wangetti Beach.”
He said any information would help the case.
“No young woman should go to the beach to walk their dog and have this happen to them,” he said.
“It’s a quiet beach. I’m not aware of any historical problems with this area.
“Anyone who has had any concerns about people they’ve seen on the beach in recent months, please come forward.”
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 CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
Wangetti Beach is about 38km north of Cairns, halfway between Port Douglas and Palm Cove.
Originally published as Investigation into death of Cairns woman and loyal volunteer Toyah Cordingley, 24
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