Glasshouse Mountains alleged murder: Two charged after woman’s body found

Detectives allege two Caboolture men murdered and moved the body of a missing woman believed to be Donna Howe after human remains were found in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Detectives have charged two people following the discovery of human remains at the Glasshouse Mountains on Tuesday June 7, 2022.

Forensic testing was underway to determine the identity of the body but police believe it to be Donna Howe, a 57-year-old Caboolture woman, who was last seen by family in late-April, 2022.

Police executed a search warrant at a Balkee Dr home in Caboolture on Wednesday and charged 41-year-old man Clinton Travis Oliver and 31-year-old man Braydon Franklin, both from Caboolture, with one count each of murder and misconduct with a corpse.

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 dead 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.

Donna Howe, a 57-year-old Caboolture woman, was last seen by family in late-April, 2022.

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.

Court documents say Mr Franklin allegedly 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.

Police will allege both men were known to the victim.

Ms Howe’s remains were discovered about midday Tuesday, June 7, 2022, by recreational four-wheel-drive users near a track in the Glasshouse Mountains off Connection Rd.

Police were advised Tuesday evening and officers arrived on scene on Connection Rd about 8pm due to the remoteness of the area in the Beerburrum West State Forest.

Caboolture Courthouse. Picture: Liam Kidston.

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 frequented the home.

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

He said detectives spoke to people that interacted with 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 Glass House Mountains.

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