A man has been charged with murder after body found down embankment in Gympie
The man whose body was found at the bottom of an embankment on Monday morning, leading to a murder charge, has been identified as a 43-year-old who was suffering from terminal liver cancer.
Police & Courts
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The man whose body was found at the bottom of an embankment near Gympie on Monday morning has been identified as 43-year-old Michael Hartley.
Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Mr Hartley had only months to live, according to his grieving family.
Sandy Hartley said her brother, who was suffering from terminal liver cancer, had been released from jail only one fortnight ago and was making improvements to better his life.
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Ms Hartley said her brother was clean, focused on family and adored living with his three young nephews.
Ms Hartley said she was “worried something had happened,” when her brother had not returned home on Monday before his police curfew- as is requested as part of his parole conditions.
It comes as 36-year-old James Baumgart, from Island Plantation in Maryborough was charged with murder, assault occasioning bodily harm and wilful damage following an intriguing turn of events that police are still attempting to string together.
According to police, four men, including Baumgart, were involved in a fight at a home in John St in Maryborough around 5pm Sunday, November 1.
Police allege after the incident, two of the men fled the scene in a white ute after sustaining injuries, while Baumgart was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital with a stab wound to his abdomen.
The white ute the two men used to flee the scene was found by police about 10pm Sunday after it crashed into a fence at a property on Burns Rd, Gympie.
The occupants had fled the scene and could not be found.
At 6am Monday, police took a 45-year-old linked to the vehicle into custody to assist with their inquiries.
At 10am on Monday, Hartley was found dead down an embankment at the Gympie property.
Ongoing investigations by police yesterday led detectives to Baumgart, who police allege to have been involved in the initial altercation at John Street, during which the 43-year-old deceased man sustained serious injuries.
Baumgart will face Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, police have released a photo of a 38-year-old man who may be able to assist with their investigations.
Maryborough detectives are asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of the man or has seen him since around 5pm Sunday not to approach him but immediately contact police on triple-0.
He is described as caucasian, around 180cm tall with a slim build, red hair and red beard.