Toyah Cordingley’s father relives horror: ‘I found her body on the beach’

The father of murder victim Toyah Cordingley has relived the horror of finding his daughter’s body and the pain he and his family has endured since.

Murder victim Toyah Cordingley’s father has relived the horror of finding his daughter’s slain body in the sand dunes the day after she disappeared.

Ms Cordingley, 24, vanished after she took a dog for a walk at Wangetti Beach, about 40km north of Cairns, on October 21.

Her father Troy Cordingley, who was leading a search party, stumbled across her body the following day. Her killer is yet to be found.

Mr Cordingley today posted a heartwrenching message on Facebook about his 24-year-old daughter who he affectionately nicknamed “bright eyes”.

“After 4-5 hours of searching with others, I found her body on the beach,” he wrote.

“Toyah is my only child. Finding her body has burnt an indelible image in my mind.

“It is something a father should never have to suffer.”

Mr Cordingley described his daughter as “a beautiful, caring young woman” and said “we are all so proud of that”.

“Toyah and I shared a love that only a father and daughter can understand,” the post continued.

“I feel lost and empty inside but will always have the wonderful memories of those 24 years.

“24 years, she should have had so many more.”

Toyah Cordingley as a child at Christmas.

Toyah Cordingley, her father Troy and his friend Mary.

Toyah Cordingley (front) and friends.

Toyah Cordingley’s father shared photos of her from when she was a child.

Mr Cordingley also shared a collection of photographs of his daughter. The images showed her as a child on Christmas Day, having fun on waterslides and in a backyard. It’s these images he is trying to replace the final, more horrific ones, with.

“Toyah used to spend a week with her mother and a week with (my partner Mary) and I as she grew up,” Mr Cordingley wrote.

“I remember our backyard full of laughing happy kids. I remember wonderful birthday parties and Christmases.

“She always said how lucky she was to have two mums and two dads.”

Mr Cordingley thanked the police, SES and local community “for working hard to find who committed this horrific act against an innocent young woman”.

The investigation into Ms Cordingley’s murder has turned into an international search for former nurse Rajwinder Singh.

Toyah Cordingley with her dad Troy.

Toyah Cordingley pictured with her father Troy Cordingley in more recent times. Picture: Facebook

One of the photos Toyah’s dad shared of her from when she was a child.

Mr Singh, a married father-of-three, flew to India the day after Ms Cordingley was killed.

Mr Singh’s family told The Sunday Mail his work at Innisfail Hospital including constantly seeing elderly patients die, had caused his mental health to deteriorate.

To take his mind off his job, Mr Singh would spend hours wandering remote beaches in far north Queensland.

Mr Singh’s family had not heard from him for a number of days when Ms Cordingley was murdered on October 21.

It’s understood he flew back to India the day Ms Cordingley was murdered and three days after his own family had reported him missing.

Originally published as Toyah Cordingley’s father relives horror: ‘I found her body on the beach’