Crystal Beale’s death in Brisbane River: Timeline of events, updates

Police continue to investigate after a women’s body was found in the Brisbane River.This is everything we know so far.

Police have launched a murder investigation after a women’s body was found in the Brisbane River following a family dinner.

This is everything we know so far about the death of Crystal Beale >>>

What is the timeline of events?

The grim discovery was made by a member of the public at Yeronga about 5.40am on February 22.

At the time, police said initial investigations suggested the woman’s death was non-suspicious.

But at a media conference on March 12, police confirmed that lines of inquiry included her ex-partner, and whether it was a random attack.

Police believe Ms Beale could have been in the water for six hours before she was found.

CCTV collected in the West End area on the night of Friday, February 21, was also being examined.

Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts said Crystal was dropped off at a Ryan street location. He said they had scoured that location, CCTV from Citycats, the ferry terminals and buses.

“Based on tidal assessments, we believe she was in the water, maybe for around six hours, which would probably be based on the way the tide was going and our expert evidence says she’s probably entered the water somewhere in West End,” he said.

“But that’s not concrete, that’s our best gauge at the moment from what we’ve been told by the water police.”

He said Crystal was visiting her family who live in the West End area.

“She was visiting family, and we believe where she’s left, she left a man known to her, and that’s where she’s gone missing, and that’s what we’re trying to piece together,” he said.

Police now believe the death of 49-year-old Crystal Beale is suspicious and investigations are continuing into the circumstances that led to her death. Picture: Police Media

Police said they believed Crystal was “near the Brisbane River at Orleigh Park, West End and on Ryan Street, West End late on Friday February 21”.

Inspector Watts appealed to anyone who may have been in the area between 9.30pm on Friday February 21 and 1am the following morning and has seen Crystal or any suspicious behaviour to come forward.

Paramedics rushed to the scene on February 22 but Crystal could not be revived and was declared dead a short time later.

She was wearing a long slim fitting white dress and had a brown leather shoulder satchel across her body when she was last seen

Who is Crystal Beale?

The family of mother of two Crystal Beale, 49, are begging for anyone with information to help solve the mystery.

Ms Beale’s daughter Charlie Rose Wagner paid tribute to her mother, saying she was her “greatest love”.

Her former partner, who is the father of one of her children, was also at the family dinner before her death.

She has a 22-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son.

“Crystal was a much loved mother and friend, her death in these circumstances is horrific, and we’re committed to seeking justice for her and her family,” Detective Acting Inspector Watts said.

He said she was known to police through her life but there was nothing significant to make her a victim or a target of this attack.

Crystal was last seen wearing a long white dress at a Sunnybank restaurant.

“This is one step in the process. We’ve done a few weeks of door knocking, CCTV collection, speaking to family, friends, associates, gathering a timeline of where she was, and trying to learn a little bit more about her lifestyle,” he said.

Police said “the family are struggling”.

“It’s quite traumatic for both and for all the family. To go missing in these circumstances, and for us, actually three weeks now that we’re still trying to piece together,” he said.

“They’re with us along the journey, trying to give us as much information as they can, but at this point in time we are still seeking answers.

“They’ve provided us with information around her movements and her background, they want answers and so do we.”

What have police said?

Detective Acting Inspector Watts said police had interviewed her family, friends and former partner but did not have any persons of interest in custody.

“We’re following a number of lines of inquiry. This particular investigation is focused around that Orleigh Park area,” he said.

“We know that she was at Sunnybank with her family and friends a few hours prior to going missing, and then she’s gone to West End, where she’s last seen, and we don’t know where she’s gone into the river, or how she’s gone into the river.”

Insp Watts said a post-mortem investigation hadn’t identified a cause of death but police don’t believe she died under natural circumstances.

Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts addresses the media. Picture David Clark

“At the time of her discovery, there weren’t any obvious injuries, which is why it was originally reported as non suspicious. Since a post-mortem and since our investigations have been going on for the last three weeks, we do now believe the death is suspicious,” he said.

“Specifically from the post-mortem results, but also our investigations around her movements, we can’t quite accurately identify where she was last seen and how or where she went into the river.”

He said there was an expired domestic violence order in place. No allegations of wrongdoing have been levelled against the man and he is not a police suspect.

What are the police investigating?

Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts said another line of inquiry was that it could have been a random attack.

“There’s a consideration that’s one of the lines we are trying to run through. Is it a random attack? We actually don’t know,” he said.

He called for anyone with information to come forward.

“As this is an ongoing investigation, police are limited in what details we can disclose, but we are confident people saw Crystal on the night and they have information that will assist with our inquiries,” he said.

“We are urging anyone with any information, no matter how small, to contact police.”