A young Cairns woman who was found dead on a Queensland beach this morning was likely murdered, police report.
24-year-old Toyah Cordingley was reported missing by her family at about 11:00pm on Sunday night when she did not return home after going for a walk with her dog at Wangetti Beach.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher told reporters that Cordingley’s body was found this morning, just after 8:00am.
Police are treating the incident as a homicide.
Kinbacher confirmed police are conducting an investigation, where the body was found, on the southern end of Wangetti Beach, about 800 metres north of the parking area. The sergeant described the area as an isolated location with only two access points, one being a camping ground.
Police believe Cordingley arrived and parked at the camping grounds between the times of 2:00pm to 2:30pm with her dog, described as “large”. As this particular area is not highly frequented, police are appealing to the public for assistance.
“People notice each other at Wangetti Beach.
“This is a shocking event; no young woman should go to a beach to walk the dog and this unfold for them.”
Cordingley’s dog was found this morning uninjured.
Kinbacher is encouraging any members of the community who were at Wangetti Beach, after 2:00pm, to please come forward with any information they may have.
“It is critical that anyone at Wangetti Beach, after 2:00pm to sundown, come and speak to us and tell us what they saw.”
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
