Jason George Reker identified as man found dead at Talegalla Weir

A fresh appeal has been made for information as police continue to investigate the suspicious death of Bauple cattleman Jason Reker at Talegalla Weir more than a week ago. LATEST

More than a week after the body of Gympie cattleman Jason Reker was found dead at Talegalla Weir near Bauple and Maryborough, no charges have been laid.

Police have made a fresh appeal for information after Gympie man Jason George Reker’s body was found near his ute at Talegalla Weir in the Bauple area earlier this month.

No charges have yet been laid.

Mr Reker is believed to have died from serious injuries to his lower body some time overnight ahead of Sunday, March 16. The injuries were consistent with being hit by a vehicle, which was nowhere to be found.

Spent bullet casings and a double barrel shotgun were found not far from Mr Reker’s body. Mr Reker had purchased a large cattle property at Talegalla Weir in 2024, and was in the process of selling his Sexton property.

A member of the public found his body near a gold Nissan Patrol, believed to be his.

A crime scene was declared after emergency services were called to the scene near the intersection of Weir Road, at 7.35am on Sunday.

Since then, there has been an outpouring of grief and shock from the Mary Valley and Gympie region community, where Mr Reker grew up.

The former business and earth moving equipment operator

Jason George Reker was found dead at Talegalla Weir on Sunday, March 16. He bought a sizeable cattle property nearby in 2024. Police have yet to charge anybody over the hit and run death.

Soon after the discovery, four people were arrested and taken in for questioning then later released without charge. A ute wanted in connection with the death had been tracked to an old service station near the Bruce Highway where the four people were located.

On Monday, March 24, a police spokeswoman said investigations into Mr Reker’s death were ongoing.

“Anyone with information is urged to contact police,” she said.

As part of Operation Xray Coronado, police identified a Ford Falcon ute they believed may have been involved in mortally injuring Mr Reker.

The Ford was found behind an abandoned service station off Bauple Woolooga Road, Bauple on Monday afternoon, police said.

At that location, police arrested four people: two women and a man all aged in their 20s and a man aged in his 30s.

But on Wednesday a police spokeswoman confirmed the four were later released without charge.

They are continuing to assist police with inquiries, the spokeswoman said.

Investigations are ongoing and a forensic examination of the ute is being carried out.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Police blocked the road in the state forest in Talegalla Weir, where Jason Reker’s body was found on March 16, 2025. Source: Carlie Walker

A car wanted in connection with the deadly hit on Jason Reker was found behind this abandoned building on Bauple Woolooga Road, Bauple on Monday afternoon after the discovery of Mr Reker’s body, police said.

Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield told media the day after the discover of Mr Reker’s body, his exact cause of death had not been confirmed with police awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination.

However, his injuries were consistent with being hit by a motor vehicle.

“We haven’t got a cause of death at all.

“We can only get that through the pathologist,’’ Det Inspect Mansfield said.

Forensic police took tyre impressions from the scene to determine what type of vehicle may have hit him.

Police believed a vehicle left the scene and they were working to locate both the vehicle and its driver.

“There are signs of another vehicle and his injuries would suggest he has been hit by another vehicle.’’

Det Inspect Mansfield said it was unclear how the weapon found at the scene was involved in what unfolded.

“We are still trying to establish the use of the firearm and that it was involved at all,’’ he said while adding that the presence of the gun and spent casings suggested it was involved in some way.

Det Inspect Mansfield said that given the circumstances of the body, police did not believe Mr Reker’s death was self-inflicted.

Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield addresses the media a day after the body of a man was discovered near Maryborough.

Police established Operation Xray Coronado to investigate the suspicious death and urged anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as Jason George Reker identified as man found dead at Talegalla Weir