Homicide detectives re-trace Toyah Cordingley’s final steps
HOMICIDE detectives are retracing the final steps of murder victim Toyah Cordingley, whose body was found on a tropical beach in far north Queensland – and say the public can help.
Crime & Justice
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HOMICIDE detectives are retracing the final steps of murder victim Toyah Cordingley, whose body was found on a tropical beach in far north Queensland.
The 24-year-old pharmacy assistant and animal lover, described as a “beautiful soul”, was murdered walking her dog on Wangetti Beach, halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas, sometime after 2pm on Sunday.
Police have fielded more than 23 calls to CrimeStoppers in the hunt for the killer or killers of Ms Cordingley, of Cairns, in a large-scale murder investigation including dozens of detectives, police divers, SERT officers, and SES crews.
“We’re following any leads we can get,’’ Far North Regional Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Sonia Smith said.
“We’ve got many lines of inquiry.
“We want to get answers for Toyah’s family. It’s a very traumatic time for her family.’’
Police and SES are scouring dense bushland behind coastal sand dunes and divers are searching the water on a 4km-long section of Wangetti Beach for any of her “personal items”, Detective Inspector Smith said.
At the moment, police said four pieces of information are key to solving Ms Cordingley’s murder:
■ Police would like to speak to anyone that had dealings with Ms Cordingley at Rusty’s Market in Cairns on Sunday, October 21, between noon and 1pm.
■ Any members of the public with dash-cam footage who were travelling on the Captain Cook Highway between the northern carpark and the southern carpark at Wangetti Beach on October 21.
■ Any members of the public that used either the northern or southern Wangetti Beach carparks on Sunday, October 21, or anyone that regularly uses them.
■ Any family, friends, acquaintances or work colleagues of Toyah that have not already spoken to police, to come forward and make contact with police.
Asked if Ms Cordingley’s dog was found tied up near the murder scene, Detective Inspector Smith declined to comment.
But she confirmed the dog was found unharmed on the beach.
Her body was found in sand dunes behind the beach on the stunning coastline, framed by rugged rainforest-clad ranges.
“It’s shocking a young woman can go out for a walk with her dog on the beach and lose her life,” one senior officer at the murder scene told The Courier-Mail.
“By all accounts, she was a darling of a girl, too.
“We’re going to need a lot of public help to crack this one.”
Cairns CIB officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said: “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.
“We’re still trying to establish her movements.’’
Ms Cordingley’s murder occurred not far from Buchan Point Beach, scene of the infamous murder of emerging Sydney scriptwriter Miranda Downes in 1985.
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