Donna Howe: Brother’s tribute to murder victim

The brother of Glasshouse Mountains murder victim Donna Howe has remembered his sister as a loving mother and grandmother who was now ‘flying with the angels’.

A Caboolture mum who was killed and had her body dumped in the Glasshouse Mountains has been remembered by her heartbroken brother as a “loving” and “caring” grandmother.

Donna Howe, 57, was last seen by friends and family between late April and May 8, 2022 before her disappearance was reported to police on June 5.

Remains believed to be of the Caboolture grandmother were discovered about midday Tuesday, June 7, 2022, by four-wheel-drivers near a track in the Glasshouse Mountains off Connection Rd.

On Wednesday, June 8 detectives raided a Balkee Dr home and arrested 41-year-old Clinton Travis Oliver and 31-year-old man Braydon Franklin, both from Caboolture and charged them with one count each of murder and misconduct with a corpse.

The Balkee Dr home was now a crime scene as police continued to scour the Caboolture property for evidence.

Ms Howe’s brother Dennis Long said there was so much to say about his 57-year-old sister with the “heart of gold” who had her life cut tragically short.

“(She was) always caring, an animal lover, (a) kind caring person, (and) a mother who loved her kids and her grandkids,” Mr Long said.

“(Donna was) a loving, caring daughter to parents, an achiever (of) many talents in wellness, therapies to animal care and gardening.”

Mr Long wanted to thank the Queensland Police and the community for their loving support during such a difficult time for his family and asked for their privacy to allow them to grieve.

“Donna is now flying with the angels,” he said.

Police have declared a Balkee Dr home in Caboolture as a crime scene. Picture: Sam Turner

Police allege in court documents that Mr Oliver and Mr Franklin murdered Ms Howe at a Balkee Dr home on May 8, 2022, and moved her body on the same date.

Mr Oliver faces a further five fraud offences while Mr Franklin faces one.

Police allege in court documents that Mr Oliver dishonestly gained $7000 for himself on May 24, and dishonestly used a debit card belonging to Ms Howe twice on the same date.

It’s further alleged in court documents Mr Oliver dishonestly obtained $310 and $1095 from Ms Howe on May 25 and May 31 in Caboolture.

Police claim Mr Franklin dishonestly gained $2000 for himself in Caboolture on May 25, 2022.

Both were mentioned in Caboolture Magistrates Court on Thursday and were remanded in custody to appear again on July 22, 2022.

Neighbours in Balkee Dr, who wished to remain anonymous, said police had visited the home in May, up to a month before Ms Howe’s remains were found.

Other neighbours said the residence had visitors come at all hours of the night with cars being parked outside their home regularly.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Green told media on Thursday that Ms Howe had lived with one of the men at a Balkee Dr home while the second man visited the home.

Sergeant Green said Ms Howe was not in a relationship with the man she had lived with.

He said detectives spoke to people that knew Ms Howe after her disappearance was reported to police on June 5, with the Caboolture woman seen as late as May 8.

Police will continue to investigate the time difference from when she was last seen to when she was found in the Glasshouse Mountains.

Ms Howe’s remains will be examined in a post mortem examination on Friday which may lead to further inquiries.