Glasshouse Mountains: Dark history of area revealed
The discovery of human remains believed to be of Donna Howe has sparked memories of the Glasshouse Mountains’ dark past dotted with tragedy. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
Police & Courts
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Known for its picturesque scenery, the Glasshouse Mountains’ dark past of grisly murders, dumped bodies and mysterious disappearances is unknown to many.
The discovery of missing Caboolture woman Donna Howe in the remote Beerburrum West State Forest on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 sparked harrowing memories of the serene Sunshine Coast hinterland area’s dark past.
Here are some of the most gripping cases to have played out that are tied to the Glasshouse Mountains.
Tia Landers’ body discovered in shallow Beerburrum State Forest grave
Ipswich woman Tia Maria Jayne Landers had her life cut tragically short in 2014 after her body was discovered off Roys Rd in Beerwah on July 3, 2014.
Linda Eileen Appleton and her partner John Edward Harris, pleaded guilty to the murder of Ms Landers in June of 2014.
The pair pleaded guilty to the six-hour torture and murder of the 28-year-old woman after a five-day trial in Brisbane Supreme Court.
Ms Landers was killed in Brighton, where she had been attacked with a machete, punched and then shot twice in the head.
Her body was found wrapped in a blanket in a shallow grave in Beerburrum forest in July, 2014.
She had two bullet wounds to her head, 30 wounds to her body, and her throat was covered in green tape, the court heard.
Both Appleton and Harris received life sentences, with Appleton to serve 23 years without parole.
Appleton appealed her sentence in 2017, but lost the appeal.
Harris was to serve 27 years without parole.
However, Harris, 47, was found lifeless at a Townsville jail in July, 2019.
He was in a single occupancy cell and was understood to have taken his own life.
Coochin Creek murder suicide of father and child
A murder-suicide scene was discovered down the remote Roys Rd, Coochin Creek, in February, 2019.
The bodies of a man and a six-month-old baby were found in a car off Roys Rd by council workers.
Police believe domestic violence was behind the deaths, with the 46-year-old man in the car responsible.
Their deaths sent ripples through the South East region and raised important questions about the use of Amber Alerts.
Murder of Daniel Morcombe
On December 7, 2003, Daniel Morcombe was abducted from a Woombye underpass by Brett Peter Cowan and taken to a secluded shack in the shadows of the Glasshouse Mountains where he was murdered and dumped in Beerwah bushland.
His disappearance sparked one of the biggest manhunts in Australian history, with almost a decade-long search and dogged policing in a bid to find answers.
After nine years, and a five-month covert operation, Cowan was finally arrested on August 13, 2011, for the murder of Daniel.
In March, 2014, Cowan was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum 20-year non-parole period.
He was also sentenced to three and a half years for indecently dealing with Daniel and two years for interfering with his remains, to be served concurrently with the main sentence.
Cowan appealed his charges in 2014 and the appeal was dismissed in 2015.
Murder-suicide inside Glass House Mountains family home
A little girl was left orphaned on March 29, 2014 when both her parents were found dead inside the family home at Glasshouse Mountains.
Within the leafy suburban area, where Mt Ngungun and Mt Tibrogargan tower as bookends to the Glasshouse Parklands estate, police entered the Allan Ave home to find a man and a woman dead in a bedroom.
Police were confronted with a gruesome scene with the death of a 34-year-old woman declared as suspicious while the death of the 42-year old man was non suspicious.
Former Detective Inspector Daren Edwards said in 2014 the grandparents had raised the alarm and contacted Beerwah Police when efforts to reach the couple failed and they became concerned for their welfare.
“The investigation is that deceased persons have obvious injuries to them,” Inspector Edwards said.
“It was quite disturbing to find them the way they have been found.”
Man’s murdered body dumped in the Glasshouse Mountains
A Brisbane man who died on January 7, 1999, was murdered, dismembered and then his body was dumped in the Glasshouse Mountains.
A jury found his killer guilty of murder and he was sentenced to life in prison in the Brisbane Supreme Court in July, 2019.
An appeal was lodged in July, 2019 and is still to be listed.
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