Killers believed to have fled as cops find second body dumped at Botany believed to be missing man Rex Chen

Unpaid debt may be behind the double murder of a couple whose bodies were dumped near Sydney Airport, police say. Rex Chen’s body was found on Tuesday — eight days after his wife’s was discovered.

A Sydney couple was murdered over an unpaid debt and dumped in parkland by their killers who then fled overseas, police said.

The body of Rex Chen, 33, was found in a submerged creek at Botany on Tuesday, just metres away from where a jogger stumbled upon the plastic-wrapped remains of his wife Sally Li, 33 — eight days ago.

Forensic police in Botany on Tuesday: Picture: Dylan Coker

Investigators at the scene where the body of Rex Chen is believed to have been found. Picture: Dylan Coker

Detectives had been painstakingly combing through the area to locate Mr Chen’s body after discovering the couple was in substantial debt, and fearing he may have been killed along with his wife.

At about 2pm, detectives found the second body in a creek and covered in dense bush.

NSW Police homicide squad boss Danny Doherty said police believe the double murder was over “outstanding money” owed by the couple.

Police believe the body is missing man Rex Chen. Picture: NSW Police

Sally Li’s body was found dumped at Botany earlier this month. Picture: Supplied

“One of our strong lines of inquiry when we found Sally’s body was that there was money owed, that there were some financial debts owed,” he said.

He said police were working with interstate and overseas authorities in China and Taiwan in a bid to track down the two killers who fled soon after the double murder.

“We’re not only looking into making inquiries in Queensland, but with Taiwanese and Chinese authorities.”

“We believe there are at least two people involved, who are both now offshore,” Det-Supt Doherty said.

Ms Li and Mr Chen were last seen at their Greenacre home in late November.

Police now think the couple was murdered about the 29th November, and their bodies loaded into a silver Toyota and driven to Botany in the early hours of November 30.

Police searching the area near where Sally Li’s body was found. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

CCTV on Foreshore Drive captured the vehicle stopping between 4am and 5am that day, which is when police believe the bodies were dumped.

Det-Supt Doherty said Mr Chen’s phone was used at some stage after the bodies were dumped.

“While there are reports of the phone being active once he was missing, police don’t believe it was Rex using the phone”.

The Daily Telegraph has been told neither of the dead couple had a full-time source of income, and that the rental house they lived in had been sold and they were due to vacate by the end of the year.

Ms Li gave up working in early childhood about a year ago to start a disability support business which she registered under the name Harmony In Home Care. The business had not started trading at the time of her murder, and is not registered as a provider on the National Disability Insurance Scheme website.

A neighbour said Mr Chen “didn’t seem to work”, but told her he worked in his wife’s disability business.

Ms Li’s mother, who runs a garden business in Parramatta, cleaned out the couple’s home on Saturday, a day after police broke the devastating news that the body found was that of her only child.

A friend of Ms Li posted a tribute online saying she was a “gentle soul”.

“Sally … you loved animals, children, nature … rest in peace sweetheart”,” the post read.

BODY METRES FROM SALLY LI’S

Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the body believed to be Jai-Bao “Rex” Chen was discovered in bushland just metres away from where his wife’s plastic-wrapped corpse was found last week.

“It was very difficult to see, and it has been there for some time,” Supt Doherty said.

Supt Doherty said police believe a third party was at one stage in possession of the phone, with investigators tracking its location to Queensland before it was returned to a next of kin.

“It has now been confirmed there was more than one person that had targeted Sally, and more than likely Rex, then dumped their bodies,” Supt Doherty said.

Supt Doherty said investigators were certain it was “not the case” Mr Chen was involved in Ms Li’s death, and aside from the debt, “no other criminalities” were involved in the double murder.

Investigators are working with Taiwanese and Chinese Police to locate two persons of interest.

Ms Li was reported missing to Parramatta Police Area Command earlier this month after her mother was unable to reach her.

About 7am on Monday, December 9, emergency services were called to bushland in Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany following reports a body had been found.

Officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command arrived to find the body since

formally identified as Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li of Greenacre.

Detectives at the scene on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The matter was referred to State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad who established Strike Force Zygon to investigate.

On Saturday, police made a public appeal to locate Zhuojun’s husband, as detectives held grave concerns for his welfare.

As inquiries continue, police are continuing to appeal for anyone with information about a silver Toyota Avensis that stopped on the northern side of Foreshore Road in Botany between 4am and 5am on Saturday, November 30.

Investigations under Strike Force Zygon continue.

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