Murdered childcare worker’s belongings cleared out of Greenacre home

The home of Sally Li, who was murdered and dumped near Sydney airport, has been cleared out by her distraught mother who laid out her possessions across the front lawn, as police continue the urgent search for her missing husband.

Scavengers have picked through the discarded personal belongings of a murdered woman whose body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped near Sydney airport, while police continue the urgent search for her missing husband, and a motive for the shocking crime.

The decomposing remains of former childcare worker Sally Li, 33, were discovered at Botany a week ago, after being driven there in a mysterious silver Toyota in the early hours of November 30, and hidden in long grass.

Ms Li’s husband Rex Chen, 33, is missing with police desperately searching for him and fearing he may be a victim of a chilling double murder.

Sally Li’s decomposing remains were found wrapped in plastic and dumped near Sydney airport last week. Picture: Supplied

At the couple’s Greenacre home on Sunday, their personal belongings were strewn along the footpath after Ms Li’s mother emptied out her daughter’s home a day earlier, and left them to be picked through by scavengers.

A neighbour told The Daily Telegraph there had been no one at the rental property since Ms Li and Mr Chen were last seen there a few weeks ago, until Friday when police forensic officers turned up, and then a removalist truck on Saturday.

The home of Sally Li and Rex Chen. Ms Li’s mother emptied out her murdered daughter’s belongings on Saturday after police confirmed the body found dumped at Botany a week ago was her. Picture:Jeremy Piper

Personal items belonging to Ms Li and Mr Chen outside their Greenacre home. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Sally’s mother came yesterday and put everything out on the street...she said the furniture was going to storage, but everything else she put on the street,” the neighbour said.

“She was very upset, she said what had happened to her daughter...it’s her only child...just so shocking, I could not believe it”.

The neighbour said Ms Li and Mr Chen were a friendly couple who always got into the spirit of Christmas, Halloween and Chinese New Year.

“Sally loved celebrations... last year the whole house was decorated for Christmas. When it was Halloween, the doorbell played Halloween music,” the neighbour said.

Ms Li, pictured, worked in childcare before starting up a disability support business a year ago. Picture: Supplied

Among the discarded items left outside the house were fairy lights, decorative Chinese lanterns and a bank cheque for $24, as well as a fish tank.

“There was so much more there but people have been taking stuff since just after the mother left...at 1am, with torches, picking through,” the neighbour said.

The murdered woman and Mr Chen lived at the $1500-a-week rental for the past couple of years, despite neither of them having an obvious source of income. They were due to vacate the property after Christmas because it had been sold by the owner.

Ms Li worked in early childhood before quitting about a year ago to start up a disability support service business.

The neighbour said Ms Li told her both she and Mr Chen worked “in something to do with” the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Business records showed Ms Li was the director of Harmony In Home Care, although it did not appear to be trading as yet.

“At Harmony, we understand that disability does not define a person...we strive to break down barriers and create opportunities for every person to thrive,” a social media page for the business said.

Police pictured on Foreshore Rd at Botany last Monday after a body was found wrapped in plastic in plastic in bushland near Sydney Airport. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

The home of Sally Li, the woman found wrapped in plastic and dumped near the airport. Picture:Jeremy Piper

NSW Police homicide squad boss Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said it was “highly possible” a third person is involved in Ms Li’s death and Mr Chen’s disappearance. He said there was no history of domestic violence between the pair.

Court records revealed Mr Chen had multiple convictions for drug dealing offences, and in 2022 he was ordered by a magistrate to be treated for alcohol and drugs issues.

Police have zeroed in on a silver Toyota captured on CCTV dumping Ms Li’s body at Sir Joseph Banks Park between 4am and 5am.

Originally published as Murdered childcare worker’s belongings cleared out of Greenacre home