Investigation into the murder of Wangetti Beach: Toyah Cordingley found dead

Wangetti Beach, located about 42 km south of Cairns, where Ms. Cordingley's body was found, will remain a crime scene until the next morning with SES teams conducting forensic searches on the beach and in the bush.

The 24-year-old was with her dog shortly before her death on Sunday, October 21st. Police confirmed that the dog had been found on the beach, but could not disclose additional information, the investigation being still in its infancy.

Police divers were also called from Brisbane to ask for help and search for personal items.

Detective Inspector of the Far North District, Sonia Smith, said today that police are treating the death of the Cairns woman as an investigation into a homicide.

"We are still in the process of establishing his movements and this is one of the reasons we need to get information from the community today – to establish exactly what led to Toyah's death and his movements to the at her death, "she said.

Speaking to the media this afternoon, Ms. Smith said 23 people had been demonstrating up to now to provide the police with information relating to the investigation while appealing to more people, including friends, family and colleagues, who have not yet shown up.

"We have an open investigation, we have not excluded anything," she said.

Police believe that Ms. Cordingley could have gone to Rusty's Markets on Grafton Street on the day of her alleged murder.

"That's why it's very important that we make contact with community members who were at Rusty Markets, who may have spoken to her, sold goods, and interacted with her between noon and one o'clock."

The police also wish to speak to anyone who uses a dashboard camera and travels between Smithfield and Port Douglas on the Captain Cook Highway between noon and 7 pm on Sunday, as well as those who frequent the beach and its two car parks (north and south).

The 24-year-old animal lover went to the beach at around 2:30 pm on Sunday to walk her dog, and her anxious family reported her missing around 11 pm when she had not returned yet. His body was found Monday.

In her own Facebook post in June, Cordingley shared a tweet about the dangers women face to violent men. It read, "I can only imagine the rage and the fear that women feel when they see dying doing mundane things like walking at home. Stop blaming women. Make men the question ".

Detective Inspector Smith said the detectives regularly approached Ms. Cordingley's family, providing them with constant support and "as you can understand, this was a very traumatic time for the family."

Senior Detective Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said, "This is not a very busy area. People are noticing at Wangetti Beach.

"No young woman should go to the beach to walk her dog and it happens to them.

"It's a quiet beach. I am not aware of any historical problem in this area. "

Police claim to have no track nor suspect and hope that the scientific examination of the body will be completed by Tuesday afternoon.

"If we are dealing with a potentially badual murder, which may be considered a common good, we may well be dealing with a man," said Detective Sergeant Ed Kinbacher.

"It may well be that this young woman met a stranger or potentially a person she knew and that the circumstances that led to her death appeared.

"It is therefore essential that anyone who is there come forward and let us know, because I think that ultimately we will provide the leads that we potentially need to solve this problem."

The detective said Ms. Cordingley, a blond-haired blonde whose large dog was found without injury on Monday, would have been easily spotted on what was traditionally a stretch of calm sand.

"No young woman should go to the beach to walk the dog and this is happening for them," he said.

"There may have been men in the area who have made women feel uncomfortable, behaving in unusual ways, paying too much attention.

"This kind of people, we want to hear from them."

Port Douglas Councilor Michael Kerr, who employed Mrs. Cordingley in her animal shelter, Paws and Claws for more than a year, described her as "the most beautiful loving soul".

Mr. Kerr said Cairns Post he was devastated to hear the news of his death.

"I knew her and her roommate when she was working for me," he said.

"I was interrogating the details (of his disappearance) on Facebook before sharing (the publication).

"She was an absolutely faithful employee of Paws and Claws. She was one of the most beautiful souls. It's tragic.

"She loved animals, she was at a different level than humans. She had something special with animals. Even distressed dogs would calm down in his presence. "

Anyone with information to report should call Crimestoppers at 1800 333 000.

– with PAA