Disturbing twist in Gold Coast apartment suspected murder-suicide

There’s been a disturbing twist in the suspected murder-suicide at the Gold Coast, with a woman’s body found concealed in a chest.

The body of a woman who died in a suspected murder-suicide at the Gold Coast lay in a furniture chest for more than a week before police made the grim discovery.

Police were called to the scene after a concerned relative sounded the alarm with the building manager at Sapphire at the Broadwater in Labrador after not being able to make contact for several days.

Officers arrived to the unit at 10.20am Friday to find the body of a 53-year-old man with a note nearby, the Courier Mail reports.

RELATED: Baby Kobi Shepherdson identified as victim of Whispering Wall murder-suicide

Police at the scene of a suspected murder homicide at the Sapphire building at Labrador. Picture Glenn Hampson

The body of a 48-year-old woman was found concealed in a furniture chest following an extensive search of the apartment.

“The woman was found inside a furniture chest inside the apartment,” Gold Coast District detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said.

“Our early indications, (suggest) at least back to last weekend … their states indicate that they have been deceased for a period (of time).

“We believe the female person is in a more advanced state than the male.”

Queensland Police said investigations into the state of the woman’s body suggest she was killed earlier than the man.

The man has been identified by police but the woman’s identity was still unknown to authorities, police said.

“We hope to have post-mortem examinations conducted of both of these persons (on Saturday) to give us more of a picture as to the cause of death,” Mr Ahearn said.

He said the forensic examination of the scene was continuing on Saturday.

Police believe the pair had been in a relationship for the past decade and the man was likely the woman’s carer as she had an underlying medical condition.

“There is no domestic violence orders in place and there is a suggestion that the male person was also a carer for the female person, so one of the lines of investigation is into the medical condition of the female person, prior to her tragic death,” Mr Ahearn said.

The couple moved to Queensland from Victoria several years ago.

The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious, but the woman’s death is.

Police are investigating the sudden deaths of two people at a Labrador apartment block on Friday morning. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Police have set up a crime scene after a man and woman were found dead in Labrador apartment block Sapphire @ The Broadwater on the Gold Coast. Photo: Jacob Miley

A neighbour told the Daily Mail that the man was a “really nice guy” and they were shocked by the incident.

“He was always really happy and really smiley,” she said.

”I only knew them to say hello to but he was always lovely.”

HORROR SA MURDER-SUICIDE

The incident comes after a murder-suicide in South Australia this week.

Nine-month-old baby Kobi Shepherdson was killed by her father in front of horrified witnesses at the Barossa Reservoir’s Whispering Wall at 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Kobi Shepherdson died at the scene. Picture: SAPOL via NCA NewsWire

When emergency services arrived at the scene, Mr Shepherdson was already deceased and Kobi was unresponsive.

Despite the efforts of witnesses and later paramedics, she was pronounced dead.

ANOTHER GOLD COAST TRAGEDY

Earlier this week Gold Coast woman Kelly Wilkinson died after being found by police with burns injuries in Arundel.

Kelly Wilkinson was found dead with burn injuries in the backyard of a Gold Coast property. Wednesday. Picture Facebook

Brian Earl Johnston, her estranged husband, has been charged with her murder.

Johnston, 34, did not appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning where he was remanded in custody.

He is facing charges of murder as well as one count of breaching bail conditions.

- additional reporting NCA NewsWire