Townsville police launch homicide investigation following woman’s body found in Garbutt home

Investigations are still ongoing into the death of a woman in Townsville, with police saying she may have been dead for several days before a phone call was made to conduct a welfare check. LATEST >

Police on the scene of a homicide, Chandler Street Garbutt. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Police have said they believe a woman’s body found in a Garbutt home on Monday may have been there for several days, with a homicide investigation currently underway and police seeking further information on the circumstances.

Queensland Police said the 47-year-old, who was the sole occupant of the address, was found deceased at 1.45pm on November 4 in a unit on Chandler Street after they reported to the property for a welfare check.

They are urging anyone with dashcam footage from Mount View Plaza and Bamford Lane in Kirwan around the time of 10.50am on November 3 and between 9.30am and 11.45am on November 4 to contact police.

Detective Inspector Damien Smith said investigations are ongoing in regards to the circumstances of her death, and police believe she may have passed away several days earlier.

“The investigation is still very much in its early stages, and we’ll be awaiting a number of forensic and medical results and tests,” he said.

Detective Inspector Damien Smith provided an update into the ongoing investigations of a 47-year-old woman's death in Garbutt.

It’s understood a person called police from a pay phone to conduct a welfare check at the woman’s address, where police found her deceased with multiple stab wounds.

“We will be conducting inquiries in an attempt to identify the person that may have made that call,” he said.

It’s understood the incident is believed to be related to domestic violence, but Detective Smith declined to confirm and said he understood the community’s concerns following the tragic deaths of two mothers in the Townsville region in recent months.

“In relation to that, we have already had, unfortunately, too many traumatic and tragic DV-related homicides in the area …” he said.

“We just want to reassure the community that we take domestic violence very seriously. The QPS is committed to supporting and protecting our victim-survivors and domestic violence and holding perpetrators to account who do use domestic violence on their partners.”

The crime scene in Garbutt. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Police declared a crime scene, and investigations surrounding the circumstances are underway.

No one has been arrested at the time of Tuesday 2pm.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Originally published as Townsville police launch homicide investigation following woman’s body found in Garbutt home