Crime scene declared as cleaners find body under Alderley unit complex

Residents of a unit complex where human remains were found have spoken out on a fiery argument and a woman “scared for her life”.

Mystery surrounds the grisly discovery of a tightly-wrapped body that was partially buried and covered in clothing and bedding under a unit complex in Alderley in Brisbane’s north.

Cleaners made the discovery on Wednesday morning during a routine visit.

Detectives were closely monitoring the unit complex on Wednesday night, as they continued to investigate the identity of the body in the basement and who put them there.

Forensic police were on scene on Thursday morning and were seen examining items near where the body was found, including a bag.

Forensic police look through a bag at the scene where a body was found. Picture: Samantha Scott

Allan Batzloff, who has lived in the Alderley complex for about five years, said he heard an argument between another resident and visitor, four to six months ago.

“It was a heat of the moment argument but I heard the words ‘I’m going to get even with you’” he said.

The basement of the Alderley unit complex where human remains were found by cleaners. Picture: Dan Peled

Mr Batzloff said the news of a sudden death has “rocked” other residents in the complex.

“I’m just surprised cleaning crews and managers hadn’t noticed anything until yesterday (Wednesday) … but it is normal for people to come and go from the property – there is no security in the carpark,” he said.

Mr Batzloff said another person had died of natural causes at the complex earlier in the year.

A local volunteer said she knew of a young woman who lived at the complex and had been “scared for her life”.

“She was very distressed because she thought something had happened there – she was scared to be in the complex and scared for her life,” she said.

Another local resident, George Samios said every Friday night “different cars and different faces” frequent the complex but that permanent residents are “too scared” to call triple-0.

Mr Samios said the complex used to be a “retirement village” but ever since Covid, people now “come and go”.

Asked whether the discovery of human remains has shocked the community, Mr Samios said: “Sarah, my wife, she has had three hours sleep but I’m a bit desensitised to this nonsense because I lived in Fortitude Valley for 14 years”.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said the body was found in a “void-type area”, behind a besser block wall in a locked area.

“Examination of that area located an item that we at this stage have identified by preliminary examination as being human remains, or a human body,” he said.

Supt Massingham said the remains had been there for “some months”, describing the person as being partially buried, “very tightly wrapped” and covered in clothing and bedding.

Police have established a crime scene at the complex. Picture: Dan Peled

Police declared a crime scene on Wednesday and scenes of crime and scientific officers were conducting forensic examinations.

The besser block area at the rear of the unit complex was secured by a steel gate which was generally locked.

Supt Massingham said the area was unlocked by the cleaners on Wednesday and was usually locked for management.

“We are obviously open to the suggestion however that squatters may have accessed the area through that gate or a rear gate,” Supt Massingham said.

He said there had been access to that area on “more than one occasion”.

“Whoever or whatever persons have put the person there have attempted to conceal the body fairly unsuccessfully in terms of using dirt and the like to cover it,” Supt Massingham said.

“But certainly the way in which it was wrapped – with many multiple layers of wrapping – and then the placement of bedding and clothing over the top made it difficult to see initially.

“My preliminary analysis of what I’ve seen there … is the person or persons have taken great care to wrap the body up in a certain way to preserve it.

“They’ve also transported it to an area that is not readily accessible and whether it was their intention to leave it there or come and get it at some later time and they simply haven’t is part of what we will be looking at.”

Police officers investigate the discovery of human remains. Picture: Dan Peled

A resident who chose to go by the name Raylene said the complex was utterly shocked by the gruesome find.

“It’s just an incredibly shocking thing. Somewhere where you’ve been has been host to something so terrible, it’s so shocking,” she said.

“There’s a little laundry towards the back with a washing machine and a dryer. I think I know that space, it’s sort of neglected.

“You wouldn’t think that anything would (be there).”

The neighbour who has lived in the unit block since May last year said she would be giving the police an official statement tomorrow morning, but has been assured that she is not a suspect.

“It’s just a weird old day. And just upsetting for whoever that was and all the people who love them,” she said.

“I really hope some sort of sense will be made out of this.”

Detectives from the homicide squad and Hendra Criminal Investigation Branch investigating.

“What I can say is these types of homicides investigations can be complex and lengthy,” Supt Massingham said.

“I believe it may take some time to identify who this person is, the cause of death and of course the causation relating to the death of this person may take some time.

“We currently have dozens of missing persons reports that we are going through that has already commenced at the Hendra station.”

Police say the investigation will be a complex one. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The unit complex is within 50 metres of Alderley Plaza and a Coles supermarket.

Property records show the unit complex is owned by Brisbane Housing Company, which is an independent not-for-profit charity which aims to supply affordable rental accommodation.

Supt Massingham said it was “quite concerning” the remains had been there some time.

“The large number of people, residents of this unit block, are quite unaware of that occurrence,” he said.

“There was no noticeable smell or any other indications that were suspicious to these people.

“And as I did say earlier, the body does appear to be very tightly wrapped.”

Supt Massingham appealed for anyone who previously lived at the unit block that might know of anyone that they haven’t seen or heard from in the last few months to contact police.

“There has been no one from the unit block here today that knows of anyone who has resided here that has gone missing all of a sudden, or any people associated with anyone here today,” he said.

“But there are some five or six residents still not home at this time so we will continue that into the night.”