Woman’s body found in rubbish at northern suburbs waste facility, tip workers to receive counselling

Tip workers have been left “understandably shaken” after finding the body of a woman at their workplace. Police continue the hunt for a killer who allegedly dumped the body in a rubbish bin to be collected.

Horrified workers who found the body of a woman at a tip are receiving counselling following the grim discovery.

Detectives await the results of a post mortem to formally identify the woman, whose remains were uncovered by workers at the Repurpose It tip in Epping on Wednesday last week.

A major homicide investigation is under way.

Investigators believe the deceased woman had been stuffed inside a rubbish bin that was emptied by a garbage truck outside a Coolaroo house a day earlier.

The woman’s body was found at a nearby tip. Picture: David Crosling

Waste management staff then located the body while moving green waste at the Cooper St tip in Epping on Wednesday and immediately called police.

Chief executive of the waste facility George Hatzimanolis said his team had been “deeply saddened” after discovering the woman’s body in its garden waste delivery shed.

“Our staff members who made this tragic discovery are understandably shaken, and we are ensuring they receive the support and counselling they need,” he said.

“We ask for privacy and understanding for our employees as we navigate through this challenging situation.

“We are fully cooperating with the police as they conduct their investigations.”

Investigators believe the woman’s body was inside a bin. Picture: David Crosling

The tip on Cooper St in Epping where the woman’s body was found. Picture: David Crosling

Police are probing the location. Picture: David Crosling

The Hilgay St home, where it is understood the woman had been living, remained empty on Monday.

A detective briefly attended the property to ensure its doors and windows remained locked.

Detectives on Saturday cordoned off a single-storey brick home on Hilgay St in Coolaroo.

Forensic crews began searching the home as detectives interviewed neighbouring houses for any information.

They trawled through the home’s recycling and general waste wheelie bins in a rear garage, examining several items on blue tarps in the driveway.

Neighbours say an elderly lady had been living alone at the home that had become a crime scene.

They said she had only moved into the home in the past few weeks.

Police on Saturday probed another brick home about 100m down the street.

The occupants of that home have been overseas since mid-June but detectives — with the help of a locksmith — entered the property about 1pm Saturday.

They were also seen examining grass clippings from the home next door.

“A significant CCTV canvass of the Coolaroo area is under way and police are keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage, particularly between Sunday June 23 and Tuesday July 2,” a police statement read.

“Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area around that time.”

Detectives cordon off a single-storey home in Coolaroo. Picture: David Crosling

Forensic crews outside the property. Picture: David Crosling

Police remove items from the Hilgay St home. Picture: David Crosling

Detectives outside the Coolaroo property. Picture: David Crosling

Police examine rubbish from the bins. Picture: David Crosling

A nearby Hilgay St resident said the previous occupants of the cordoned-off home moved out about two months ago.

They said a furniture moving truck was parked in the driveway of the home for some time.

Steve Toseland said the lights inside had stayed on for the month or so that it was vacant, but he was not aware of anyone living there since.

“When they left, all the lights were on and they were burning for about a week,” he said.

“Then there was a truck parked in the driveway for probably a week or a couple days, then nothing.

“The truck went and it was all gone. All empty.”

He said he was shocked to learn why investigators were probing his usually quiet suburban street.

“I just thought when the truck was gone they’d moved out, too,” he added.

“We’re a very quiet street, it was shocking (to hear).

“There’s been no action, no people, no nothing.”

Ju Zhang’s body was found in a tip in Wollert in 2021.

Joon Seong Tan was jailed for Ju Zhang’s murder. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The woman’s neighbour said she was shocked to hear of the homicide investigation on Saturday.

She said the only conversation she’d had with the woman next door was about what day the rubbish bins went out during the week.

“That’s the only thing we talked about, but she was a normal lady,” neighbour Beatriz Betancur said.

“She was a normal person to me.

“I didn’t see anyone, I think she lived alone.

“It’s terrible, it’s scary. This street is very safe, very quiet, most of these people are old people, like me.

“There’s no problems — I don’t understand what’s happened.”

Human remains found at a tip in Wollert, just a few kilometres away, were in 2021 confirmed to have belonged to slain Epping mum Ju “Kelly” Zhang.

The 33-year-old’s body was found after a four-day search of the waste management site on Bridge Inn Rd.

Ms Zhang’s boyfriend, Joon Seong Tan, 35, was found guilty of her murder and jailed for 28 years in 2023.

Originally published as Woman’s body found in rubbish at northern suburbs waste facility, tip workers to receive counselling