Tanya Lee Glover has been identified as the body found in the unit block wall at Alderley

The body of a woman found in the wall of a Brisbane unit last year has been formally identified, with police saying it’s possible she was killed in 2009.

The body of a woman found in the wall of an Alderley unit last year has been formally identified as Queensland woman, Tanya Lee Glover, who they say was likely killed in 2009 or 2010

The breakthrough comes eight months after maintenance workers found remains behind a besser block wall at the back of an Alderley unit complex on December 7.

She was dressed in a T-shirt, wrapped up and partially buried. Police said she suffered “trauma” to her body which had likely been hidden behind the wall for years.

Tanya Lee Glover has been identified as the woman whose remains were located at Alderley on December 7, 2022. Picture: Supplied

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said police were able to formally identify Ms Glover through DNA.

Police have revealed Ms Glover, who would be 52, moved to Queensland from New South Wales in 2006 and lived in Fortitude Valley until 2010.

Det Supt Massingham said she was not employed and led a “very quiet and subdued lifestyle”.

He said Ms Glover “fell out” with her parents many years ago, and they believed she was living in another part of the country.

“We have spoken to Ms Glover’s mother and father, they are obviously upset, they are obviously traumatised as a result of the news… and they are indeed saddened,” he said.

Ms Glover was vision and hearing-impaired and would have been about 38 years old at the time of her death.

Police are treating her death as a homicide.

She was not formally known to Queensland Police, and no missing person reports had been made concerning her.

Det Supt Massingham said earlier this year that police believed her body could have been in the wall for some time.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham, Regional Crime Coordinator for the Brisbane Region, at a unit block where remains were located at Alderley. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“We can place the body with a high degree of confidence here in the position it was found back in November 2015,” Supt Massingham said.

“(But) the time of death for this person could extend out to 2009.”

Det Supt Massingham said there could be many explanations as to why the woman had not been reported missing and that investigators were considering all possibilities.

“Obviously it might relate to this person being quite transient, not necessarily having a large family, work group or the like, or the fact that someone close to her, known to her within a small family unit is responsible for her disappearance,” he said.

Det Supt Massingham said police were now working to figure out who would want to kill Ms Glover.

“This is peculiar, there is a motive around this that we are yet to establish why someone, or persons, would target a vulnerable single female in this way and callously go about disposing of her body in the way and nature that we have observed.

“This is concerning, and peculiar.

“But now that we have identified Ms Glover… the really important process begins where we have to try and identify now who is responsible for her death.”

He said police did not believe the woman had been a resident of the unit complex.

“We have ruled out any occupant of this residence as being the person that we have here,” Det Supt Massingham said.

A tightly-wrapped body that was partially buried and covered in clothing and bedding was found under a unit complex in Alderley in Brisbane’s north. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Det Supt Massingham said genetic genealogy was used to identify Ms Glover and track down her parents.

“There’s certain genetic markers which are used to match what was an unidentified DNA victim from Ms Glover, to known DNA profiles of biological relatives,” he said.

“That is a process whereby the AFP can... identify people within that family tree, and with the assistance of investigators narrow down that search.”

Ms Glover was living in her Fortitude Valley residence at the time she went missing.

Police believe she was likely killed in 2009 or 2010 and her body moved to the unit complex. Ms Glover had no connection to that complex.

Det Supt Massingham said some items found at the scene were still being looked at by forensics.

Detectives weren’t ruling out whether more than one person was involved in her death.

“This is a single vulnerable lady that lives a very carefree lifestyle, and for whatever reason has been targeted for an unknown purpose and dealt with in a very horrid way.”

Police released a photograph of Ms Glover, which they say is the “best they have” and urged anyone from the unit complex where she was found who may recognise her to contact police.

Detectives are seeking public assistance for information in relation to any person who may have known Ms Glover or had any interactions with her, particularly during the 2006 to 2010 period.

Ms Glover is described as caucasian in appearance, between 155 and 165cm tall, and had dark brown hair.

Any person who has any information is requested to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Originally published as Tanya Lee Glover has been identified as the body found in the unit block wall at Alderley