Police on plastic-wrapped body in creek: ‘Danielle died a gruesome death’
Police have identified the body of a woman found tightly wrapped in plastic in a Lake Macquarie creek as Danielle Easey. Police believe the 29-year-old may have been killed “weeks ago”.
Newcastle
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A post-mortem examination of the body found tightly wrapped in plastic in a Lake Macquarie creek has revealed the woman died from significant injuries.
While further details surrounding Danielle Easey’s death were released today, Homicide Unit Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor remained tight-lipped about her “gruesome death”.
The body of the 29-year-old was found by motorists along Wakefield Rd about 10.30am on Saturday. They reported seeing an item wrapped in plastic at Cockle Creek.
It is understood Ms Easey was not reported a missing person before her remains were located near Killingworth, and the level of decomposition suggests the body may have been in the creek for days or even weeks.
Insp Taylor said: “It is very early to speculate but we have a belief that she was most likely disposed of very near to the location where the body was found.
“The family is still trying to pin down the exact circumstances of where Danielle was last seen.
“Danielle died a gruesome death. I don’t want to get into the specifics of the injuries that she has received at present. That is something we will establish and confirm in coming days.
“The post mortem was today and has not been concluded.”
Insp Taylor added officials believed Ms Easey “may have been killed weeks ago”, but could not pinpoint when at this stage.
“Sometime between mid-August and present is where we are very interested in knowing her movements,” he said.
“We want to know exactly who was she was staying with, that is the pertinent question.
“We are very keen to hear from people who were putting her up over that period of time.”
Despite several days of rain, the area of Cockle Creek where Ms Easey was found is not considered to have rapid currents.
Detectives are confident her body had not been washed a significant way downstream before it was found.
Insp Taylor said, before her death, Ms Easey was known to the police.
“Suffice to say that unfortunately for Danielle she got herself involved in the drug milieu and we are exploring whether that is connected to her death,” he said.
“If anyone knows exactly where Danielle was sleeping over the last three to four weeks please come forward and tell us.”
Detectives spent Sunday speaking with the woman’s relatives, friends and associates to create a picture of her recent past.
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