Belinda Peisley murder: Women’s underwear found in Katoomba house during police search
Police have found a woman’s dress and underwear during an excavation being carried out in an effort to find out who killed Blue Mountains mother-of-two Belinda Peisley almost 20 years ago.
Police have sent clothing discovered at a Blue Mountains house for DNA and blood testing as they strive to solve the 20-year-old cold case murder of teen mum Belinda Peisley.
It was revealed on Tuesday that officers had uncovered a woman’s dress and underwear buried under about 30cm of dirt beneath Ms Peisley’s Katoomba home.
The Daily Telegraph understands the clothing is consistent with the size and style worn by the 19-year-old at the time of her disappearance in 1998.
On Monday police said they had found three items “of great interest” at the property.
The items were found by police during digging at the Trow Ave house where Ms Peisley lived with her two sons.
Despite the excavation coming to a close yesterday with no trace of Ms Peisley’s body being found, police remain hopeful of cracking the cold case.
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Her father Mark Wearne told The Daily Telegraph he was hopeful Tuesday’s developments would help him lay his daughter to rest.
“I’m becoming more optimistic with the efforts police went to on Tuesday and the fact they have found items of clothing in such an unusual place where a person would not normally dispose of them,” Mr Wearne said.
“Obviously if it was Belinda’s clothes, damaged or otherwise she would have thrown them in the garbage. I am excited about more possible progress.”
Police began digging on Monday in an effort to either locate Ms Peisley’s remains or find evidence relating to her suspected murder.
In the afternoon homicide detectives emerged from the house carrying three brown paper evidence bags which they took straight to a forensic lab for testing.
They are now waiting to see if any DNA found on the clothing matches that of Ms Peisley.
“Yesterday’s (Monday’s) find is of great interest to Strike Force Belonidae investigators — the undergarments are consistent with Belinda’s clothing size,” Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said.
“We will await the results of the forensic analysis, which includes DNA testing, to determine whether new lines of inquiry can be explored.”
Ms Peisley was intoxicated at a party on the night of her disappearance.
Police took her to Katoomba Hospital with several injuries but she walked out before seeing a doctor at 8.50pm on September 26. It was the last time she was seen alive.
The coroner found that she died about the time of her disappearance but did not make a finding on the manner or cause of her death.
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