Krishna Chopra: Crows Nest community reeling after death ruled murder

A small town is in shock after the death of a woman described as “well liked” is ruled a murder by police. Police have now widened the search for clues in their investigation.

Detectives from the Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch hosted as community outreach hub in Crows Nest on February 9 to gather fresh information regarding the murder of 61-year-old Krishan Chopra.

THE quiet high-country town of Crows Nest is in shock over the murder of Krishna Chopra – a 61-year-old mother who was found dead in her home on January 31.

Long-time local Mick Ryan said he knew everyone in town and described Ms Chopra as a gentle, down-to-earth woman who had a spiritual side.

“She was very quiet and unassuming,” he said.

“She volunteered with Meals on Wheels, she was quite well liked and did not have any enemies.”

Krishna Chopra was found dead in her Crows Nest home on January 31.

Mrs Chopra’s body was found after a friend made multiple trips to her house but got no answer when they knocked on the door.

The friend contacted police who launched a homicide investigation.

Mr Ryan said the townsfolk were in shock.

“Crows Nest is a beautiful town, and very seldom does anything out of the ordinary happen … but this is a dreadful thing, no doubt about it.

“There are a lot of people who have moved up here in the past five years after they fell in love with the town, and that is what Krishna did.”

Detectives from the Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch hosted as community outreach hub in Crows Nest on February 9 to gather fresh information regarding the murder of 61-year-old Krishan Chopra.

Investigators from the Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch and the Brisbane-based Homicide Investigation Unit established a community outreach hub in Centenary Park yesterday and encouraged anyone who knew Ms Chopra to come forward.

Toowoomba Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said there had been a strong response from the community.

He added that no piece of information was too small.

“We would rather know the information and decide whether it is something that could assist us than not ever know it or find out in six months time,” he said.

Detectives have appealed for anyone who had contact with Krishna Chopra in their day-to-day lives or saw either of her vehicles between January 20 and 22 to come forward.

Police located both of Krishna Chopra’s vehicles at her home.

Ms Chopra was last seen alive around January 21, and police are keen to fill in the blanks between that date and when her body was discovered on January 31.

To help, they have released images of Ms Chopra and her two vehicles – a white Toyota wagon and a blue Toyota coupe.

“Just putting her photograph out there might not prompt someone’s memory, but putting her photograph with one of those vehicles might,” Sgt McCusker said.

Police have canvassed the area extensively and examined the inside of Ms Chopra’s home.

The home remains a crime scene and is under guard by police.

Krishna Chopra's home in Park Road, Crows Nest, remains a crime scene. It is covered in residue left over from an extensive search for forensic evidence.

It has been examined for forensic evidence and the outside of the structure is covered in residue from an exhaustive search for fingerprints.

A small floral tribute hangs from its fence.

Sgt McCusker would not comment on whether that had been any signs of a struggle or forced entry but did say that no one police had spoken with to date had said they heard a commotion on or around the days when Ms Chopra was last seen alive.

“There is a period of time when she was last seen from January to 21 to when police attended the house (on January 31),” he said.

“That is the gap we haven’t got and that is when we ask members of the public to really sit down, talk to their kids, talk to people who came to their house and to really reach out.”

In the days after Ms Chopra’s body was discovered, police called in State Emergency Services volunteers to search the nearby golf course.

A small floral tribute hangs outside Krishna Chopra's home in Park Road, Crows Nest.

Sgt McCusker said this was a normal part of any investigation and urged anyone who was playing golf in Crows Nest on January 20 or 21 to come forward.

Police are also keen to talk to anyone who used the Meals on Wheel service in Crows Nest and the surrounding towns and came into contact with Ms Chopra in the weeks and months before her death.

Finally, any shop keepers, hospitality staff or community members who came into contact with Ms Chopra in any way are urged to come forward.

Police are yet to confirm if they have a suspect.

“We are keeping an open mind,” Sgt McCusker said.

If you have information that would help the investigation, phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000