Police search Terrigal lagoon for clues to Devora’s death
The investigation into how the body of Devora Howard washed up at Terrigal Haven on Tuesday continues with police “50/50” over whether the Wamberal woman’s death was the result of foul play.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Construction begins on Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute
- Umina skate park turns into a swimming pool
The investigation into how the body of Devora Howard washed up at Terrigal Haven continues with police “50/50” over whether the Wamberal woman’s death was the result of foul play.
Meanwhile, the man who found Ms Howard’s belongings and her beloved Doberman Harvey on the shore has told of how the beloved pet barked at the ocean and pined for his lost owner.
Police divers scoured the Terrigal lagoon and a stretch of the beachfront this morning looking for clues as to how the popular 56-year-old may have died.
Four officers in wetsuits waded through the shallow water however appeared to walk away empty-handed.
The officers were parked at the end of Pacific St, Wamberal, where Ms Howard lived with her elderly mother.
An autopsy was carried out today but a NSW police spokesman said a report had yet to be prepared for the Coroner. A source confirmed police were still “50/50” over the fate of Ms Howard.
Terrigal-based personal trainer Jordan Green found Ms Howard’s beloved Doberman Harvey pining at the water’s edge at Wamberal, an hour and a half before her body was found by fisherman about 150m north of the Haven boat ramp.
He arrived at 5.40am to conduct a training session.
“When I got there, I found the ladies’ dog on the beach but couldn't see anyone else around,” he said.
“I knew something was not quite right when the dog was on the shore and barking and looking out to the water. He was distressed. He had his lead on and there was a bumbag on the sand.”
Mr Green said he and a woman tried looking for the owner.
“While I ran my session, the lady kept looking,” he said.
“Afterwards we decided to take the dog home. The address was on its tag. That’s when I decided to call the police.”
Ms Howard was recovered at 7.10am wearing only white jeans and a bra.
Police have urged anyone who may have seen Ms Howard between 10pm Monday night and Tuesday morning to come forward.
She was last seen by a neighbour standing on the second storey of her house about 10pm on Monday night talking on a mobile phone.
“It’s a tragic situation for the family,” Detective Chief Inspector Steve Laksa said at a press conference yesterday.
“But we believe the community might be able to piece together the information to identify where that person had been and that person’s movements before (she) was located by the fishermen.
“I can say any small piece of information would be appreciated, even if it’s just a glimpse or a suspected sighting of this person — it will all help with our investigation”.
Police hope the autopsy will determine exactly how Devora Howard died.
On Tuesday police spoke to her estranged husband, Peter Howard, who she had separated from, as well as a male neighbour, who she had been romantically linked to before her death.
Chief Insp Laksa said neither of the men were involved in her death nor were there any “persons of interest” in the investigation.
“We have retrieved and been provided with CCTV footage, which at this stage we haven’t analysed but again on that point we would ask that anyone who does have CCTV footage of those hours anywhere in the vicinity of Terrigal, the lagoon, anywhere pointing out to that direction and has a person matching that description we would love to those persons to contact police,” he said.
