Woman in a dog collar found dead in Sydney park
Police say discovery of half-naked body near playground is ‘definitely suspicious’
Australian police have opened a murder investigation after the half-naked body of a woman wearing a dog collar was discovered close to a children’s playground in Sydney.
A council worker made the gruesome discovery at Buffalo Creek Reserve, a park in the affluent Hunter’s Hill area of northern Sydney, early on Wednesday morning.
The ABC reports that detectives are “looking at the possibility of it being a domestic violence incident”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The deceased woman was partially dressed, in what police described as dark polka-dot clothing. “It is understood that the woman's hands were bound when she was found, and there was a restraint around her neck,” says the Sydney Morning Herald. Several media outlets have since reported this restraint to be a large pink or purple dog collar.
The Daily Mail reports that the woman appeared to have experienced “massive head injuries”, although police have not publicly confirmed what, if any, injuries have been found on the body.
As police cordoned off the area around the playground, “forensic officers examined what appear to be drag marks stretching 30 metres across the path leading towards where the body was found”, SBS reports.
“We are treating it as suspicious,” Detective Superintendent David Waddell told reporters. “At this stage, it's definitely suspicious.”
He added that the investigation is still in “very early stages” and that the police are yet to formally identify the woman. A post-mortem will be carried out to shed further light on the cause of death.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Inside Siberia's 'megaslump' – and why it is getting bigger
Under The Radar The 'eerie sinkhole' is rapidly expanding and climate change is the reason why
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Is the death penalty racist? Of course it is.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 8, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - social media guilt, gag orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Weinstein's appeal: a blow to #MeToo
Talking Point Is 'shocking' reversal of symbolic conviction a sign of weakening movement?
By The Week UK Published
-
Do youth curfews work?
Today's big question Banning unaccompanied children from towns and cities is popular with some voters but is contentious politically
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Sydney mall attacker may have targeted women
Speed Read Police commissioner says gender of victims is 'area of interest' to investigators
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why are kidnappings in Nigeria on the rise again?
Today's Big Question Hundreds of children and displaced people are missing as kidnap-for-ransom 'bandits' return
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
How the idyllic Galapagos Islands became staging post in world drug trade
Under the radar Ecuador's crackdown on gang violence forces drug traffickers into Pacific routes to meet cocaine demand
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Armed gangs, prison breaks and on-air hostages: how Ecuador was plunged into crisis
The Explainer Gangs launch deadly revenge after president declares state of emergency following escape of feared drug boss from prison
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ecuador tips toward chaos amid prison breaks, armed TV takeover
Speed Read New President Daniel Noboa authorized the military to 'neutralize' powerful drug-linked gangs after they unleashed violence and terror across Ecuador
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published