By Amber Schultz and Angus Dalton
Police believe a third party may have been involved in the “suspicious” and “brutal” alleged murder of a woman whose body was discovered in dense bushland near Sydney Airport on Monday and the disappearance of her husband in “unusual” circumstances.
Detectives uncovered the identity of married couple Zhuojun “Sally” Li and Jai-Bao “Rex” Chen on Saturday. The pair, both 33 years old, lived in a rental unit in Greenacre, in Sydney’s west.
The body of Zhuojun “Sally” Li (left) was discovered near Sydney airport on Monday. Police hold grave concerns for her husband, Jai-Bao “Rex” Chen (right).Credit: NSW Police
Chen is originally from Taiwan, while Li moved to Australia from China as a child 20 years ago.
Li’s severely decomposed body was discovered by a passerby in Botany on Monday morning wrapped in plastic. Li’s mother reported her missing to Parramatta police earlier this month after she was unable to reach her daughter.
Police have not been able to get in contact with Chen and hold “grave concern” for his welfare. Chen is of Asian appearance, slim, and about 165-170 centimetres tall, with black hair and brown eyes.
Addressing the media on Saturday afternoon, homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the tragedy was shrouded in mystery.
“This was a normal couple in suburbia … and a young woman living a normal life … there’s nothing that gives a strong indication that they were involved in any wrongdoing or mixed up in any organised crime,” he said.
“We have to keep an open mind about motives and who may have wanted to harm her.”
The couple were last seen together in late November. Police say there are no known domestic violence-related concerns.
Doherty said police were not sure whether Chen was “alive or dead”.
Police suspect Li’s body was dumped in Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany, within metres of a footpath, off Foreshore Road between 4am and 5am on November 30.
“That would fit in with the decomposition,” Doherty said.
Police are seeking information about the driver of a silver Toyota Avensis captured by CCTV on Foreshore Road.Credit: NSW Police
On Saturday, police seized a vehicle they believe was used to transport Li’s body to the bushland. CCTV footage of the vehicle, a silver Toyota Avensis that stopped on Foreshore Road in the early hours of November 30, was released earlier on Saturday.
The car is undergoing forensic examination, and police are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage of the area to contact police.
“This investigation unfolds, it seems to be, on an hourly basis,” Doherty said.
Chen and Li’s family were informed about Li’s death and Chen’s disappearance on Friday after Li’s body was identified via DNA testing.
“They’re obviously devastated,” Doherty said.
“This is a very sad, tragic death, where someone’s lost their life in not only an unusual way, but a suspicious and brutal one.”
Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
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