Homicide investigation continues as police appeal to public for information regarding the death of a 21-year-old man

Police have confirmed a 21-year-old man found in the backseat of his car in North Queensland was killed, with an expansive search now underway for the murder weapon.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd is investigating a homicide over the weekend at Woodstock. Pictures: Supplied.

Following an autopsy which confirmed that a 21-year-old Vincent man was murdered at Woodstock over the weekend, police investigators have launched a search to locate a potential murder weapon and other missing items.

Three Brisbane homicide detectives flew into Townsville as part of Operation Whiskey Koba to investigate the sudden death of the man.

His body was found in the back seat of his 2003 Subaru Forester, near Webb Drive and Dingo Park Rd, Woodstock on Saturday morning.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Detective Inspector Jason Shephard confirmed they were now investigating the death as a homicide following the cause of death being determined.

Mr Shephard said Police could not release what the cause of death was, but said SES and detectives had been conducting a “emu search” on Webb Road for a murder weapon or other evidence that may have been discarded from the vehicle.

“It’s definitely a homicide, and that was a result of the post mortem on Monday,” he said.

“There’s some items that we would have expected to find (in the vehicle) that aren’t there, so they’re searching for any of those items as well.”

The detective inspector said following a forensic search of the vehicle they found evidence linking different people to the vehicle, including the 26-year-old friend who is currently in custody for unrelated charges.

“The 26-year-old) is obviously a person of interest but we can’t rule out the fact that there could have been a third person involved,” Mr Shephard said.

He said witnesses had come forward with more information including the truck driver involved in an incident Calcium Roadhouse.

Townsville Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd. Picture: Evan Morgan

Police are continuing their appeal to the public for any information which will help build a time line of events.

“It’s very sad that we have a family now who will be spending Christmas without their son,” he said.

“We want to try and get closure for that family and that’s why I wanted to put out another appeal to the public for anyone with any information to come forward.”

Police are calling on anyone who saw two caucasian males travelling in a 2003 Subaru forester travelling on Webb road or Dingo Park Road areas near Woodstock on the night of Friday December 12 and the morning of Saturday December 13.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen this car on Friday evening, December 13 or Saturday morning, December 14 to come forward.

No charges have been made in relation to the matter.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said during a press conference on Monday the victim’s long time friend, a 26-year-old man, was picked up by a member of the public on Saturday morning while he was walking on Dingo Park Rd and driven to the Calcium Roadhouse on Flinders Highway.

The 26-year-old was subsequently arrested at the roadhouse after “behaving disorderly”.

“(The 26-year-old) has gotten into that B-double truck and driven it forward about 10 metres, the driver has removed him from the truck but the truck has left before police got there,” Detective Shephard said.

“The male who is currently in custody was under the influence of some sort of substance but we just can’t say what that substance was.”

He was taken to Townsville University Hospital where he was treated for unknown substances in his system and was yet to be involved in an “extensive interview”.

Police are appealing for information regarding a deceased body found in the back of a 2003 Subaru Forester near Webb Drive and Dingo Park Rd, Woodstock. Picture: Google Maps

Police allege that the 26-year-old and the murder victim had spent Friday night and early Saturday morning driving erratically in the car before it was found by a resident sitting stationary in the middle of Webb road.

“They’ve been friends for most of their life. Obviously there are reports that they were driving erratically … doing doughnuts and things like that,” Det. Insp. Shepherd said.

“The property owners that are out that way initially spoke to them on the Friday night and asked them to leave and they were again seen on the Saturday morning.”

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Quote this reference number: QP2402146196

Originally published as Homicide investigation continues as police appeal to public for information regarding the death of a 21-year-old man