Finch Hatton death: Friend pays tribute to suspected murder victim Suzanne Scott

The best friend of a woman at the centre of a homicide investigation that has rocked a rural community says the 69-year-old was ‘adventurous’ and ‘had a big heart’.

The best friend of a Finch Hatton Gorge woman now at the centre of a homicide investigation described her as an “awesome lady” with a “big heart”.

The 69-year-old woman’s friend is now trying to make sense of the tragedy and the scenes she was confronted with on Monday afternoon.

Finch Hatton Gorge resident Suzanne Scott tragically died in what has become a police homicide investigation. Picture: Daily Mercury

Suzanne Ruth Scott died on July 4 after an incident at her Boulder Rd home.

Police believe her body was then driven to the home of her best friend Lyn Andersen on Zahmel St where she was declared dead.

Ms Andersen said she was still in shock.

“I still can’t get my head around it,” she said, adding she was still “trying to wake up from it all”.

“I’m just numb.”

Boulder Rd in Finch Hatton, along which Suzanne Ruth Scott lived for several years. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Police have investigated at least three separate crime scenes in relation to the tragedy, two on Boulder Rd including Ms Scott’s home, and Zahmel St.

A 37-year-old Mackay man is helping police with their investigation.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Ms Andersen.

Ms Andersen said she had known her friend since about 2006 and said she “was an awesome lady”.

Ms Scott has been described as a smart, strong and “awesome” lady. Picture: Daily Mercury

“She was an adventurous woman that’s for sure,” she said, adding she was very smart and even loved a good debate about politics.

“She was a very strong woman too.

“I know she would help anybody that would need help, give a lending hand to anyone that needed it.

“She had a big heart.”

Ms Andersen had been looking after Ms Scott’s dog Mozzie, a shitzu cross, now in the hands of the RSPCA.

A man is helping police following the death of a woman at Finch Hatton on July 4. Picture: Rae Wilson

Ms Scott’s sudden death has rocked the Finch Hatton community where she was seen regularly and was known to be “quite friendly”.

A resident, who preferred not to be named, said the community was in shock and there was a lot of confusion.

“And nobody is really sure of the circumstances either, which is worrying,” the resident said.

“What we’ve heard is Sue was run over or hit by a car.”

The property on Zahmel St, Finch Hatton, outside which 69-year-old Suzanne Ruth Scott was found dead in the back seat of her Mitsubishi Pajero police believe was stolen after 12.30pm on Monday, July 4, 2022. Picture: Janessa Ekert

She said no-one knew if this happened at Ms Scott’s Boulder Rd address from where the car was allegedly stolen or at a Zahmel St address where the 69 year old was found and later pronounced dead.

“I spoke to her whenever she came to town and she was always friendly and really always willing to help people,” she said.

“If you needed a lift somewhere she would give you a lift. She was lovely.

Police are investigating the suspicious circumstances around Ms Scott’s death on July 4. Picture: Daily Mercury

“She’s had so many issues over the years with her husband, it’s really quite tragic.”

It is understood Ms Scott’s husband is in hospital with dementia and another serious illness.

“She’s been his carer for quite a while,” the resident said.

Ms Scott was well known out at the Gorge.

“Nobody wants that element in their community,” the resident said when asked if people were now afraid.

Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 69-year-old woman at Finch Hatton on July 4. A 37-year-old Mackay man is helping police. There were two incidents at two separate Boulder Rd addresses. The woman died at Zahmel St. A police vehicle was damaged when the man was taken into police custody. Picture: Rae Wilson

Police said the 37-year-old Mackay man helping with the investigation had been performing CPR on Ms Scott before she died.

She died at the scene and police said post-mortem results were yet to determine her injuries or how she died.

“I think that’s most peoples’ concern; you just don’t want to think that that can happen and we do have a number of single older women in various locations living up at the Gorge,” the resident said.

It is understood Ms Scott had been planning her 70th birthday, believed to be just weeks away.

Inclement weather initially prevented police from accessing a number of addresses on Boulder Rd where two incidents occurred as part of the bizarre chain of events that resulted in Ms Scott’s death.

However Scenes of Crime officers have since been able to get to the sites until Wednesday.

Ms Scott owned the Pajero at the centre of the ongoing investigation.

It is believed a police vehicle was damaged as the man was taken into custody.

No charges have been filed.