Melbourne teacher Shanae Brooke killed in Georgia

A friend heard the Melbourne teacher’s final words in a terrifying phone call, before her body was found in Georgia the next day.

A Melbourne woman has been murdered while hiking in Georgia.

English teacher Shanae Brooke, 31, was trekking Mount Mtatsminda in Tbilisi, the capital city, on Friday, July 30, when she was ambushed.

Ms Brooke was on the phone to a friend in the US and was reportedly heard saying “take your hands off me” before the call disconnected.

It’s been reported she was raped before being murdered.

Her body was found the next day, but the killer remains at large.

Ms Brooke has been remembered as an adventurous soul who was loved by many.

English teacher Shanae Brooke.

Shanae Brooke was ambushed.

Natalie Curro and Shanae Brooke on their travels.

“Shanae was always up for an adventure, so kind-hearted to those around her, full of laughter and a shining light. I lack the words to fully express what I feel, however I only have love for her,” friend Sarah Richards said.

Another friend, Natalie Curro, described Ms Brook as a globetrotter who was “tough as nails”.

“You were such a genuine, selfless, adventurous, tough as nails, determined, creative and caring person,” Ms Curro wrote.

“Your loss is felt deeply by many across the globe.”

Ms Brooke had been working in Georgia as an English teacher for about two years.

She previously lived in Melbourne and would volunteer her time helping others, including feeding the homeless and caring for stray cats.

Authorities are treating Shanae Brooke’s death as premeditated murder.

Her last Instagram post, dated Thursday July 29, captured her motorbike on the top of a mountain with the caption “joy”.

It’s understood Ms Brooke left her home at 3.35pm on Friday and was captured on CCTV wearing a black hiking outfit and carrying a green bag with her hair tied up.

About one hour later, she made the distressed phone call to her friend where she reportedly told her attacker: “Please let me go, ok … just let me go.”

Local police noted in a document, seen by the Herald Sun, that they’d picked up signals from Ms Brooke’s phone at the Okrokana Forest.

The forest was deemed a high priority search zone, as was the site Ms Brooke’s body was later found.

The Herald Sun understands Ms Brooke suffered physical injuries.

More than a dozen teams of volunteers, including friends of Ms Brooke, searched different areas of the woods.

A Georgia resident, who led one of the search teams, said his worst fears became a reality when her body was found.

“It looks like our fears have become reality and Shanae’s body has been found,” he said.

“I don’t know anything else at the moment and I don’t know what to say. This is a horrible, horrible time. Thank you very, very much to everyone in Tbilisi who came forward to help and be compassionate today. You’ve all been amazing”

“My thoughts are with Shanae — wonderful, strong, kind--and with all of her other friends and family,” he said.

There are reports other women were followed by an unknown man near Mount Mtatsminda.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has launched an investigation into Ms Brooke’s death, which is being treated as a premeditated murder.

Shanae Brooke’s killer remains on the loose.

Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri said: “The ministry and police officers are doing their best to find the murderer … We (the Ministry of Internal Affairs) have some information, though I cannot talk about it due to the interests of the investigation”.

A statement revealed Ms Brooke’s body was found on a slope of Mtatsminda.

“The officers of the Criminal Police, Emergency Situations Management Service and Special Tasks Department were involved in the search operation,” the statement read.

“K-9 Service of Forensic Criminalistics Department was also involved in search activities.

“The Old Tbilisi Police Main Division of Tbilisi Police Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation on the fact of illegal restriction of freedom under Article 143 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

“All necessary operative and investigative activities are under way.”

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the woman’s family.

“The Australian government offers its deepest condolences to the family of an Australian woman whose death is being investigated by authorities in Tbilisi, Georgia,” a spokesman said.

Originally published as Melbourne teacher Shanae Brooke killed in Georgia