Body believed to be woman found in NSW stock trough; police treat death as suspicious

Police are treating as suspicious the death of a person believed to be a woman after a badly decomposed body was found partially submerged at a remote property in Terragon, northern New South Wales. Det Insp Matthew Zimmer told reporters in Tweed Heads on Tuesday that the remote setting, the location itself and the lack of a vehicle or other way to get there were factors in that assessment.

Police went to the property near Murwillumbah shortly after 11.20am on Monday following reports that a body had been found. The remains were discovered in a disused livestock trough known as a stock dip, a large container used to treat livestock for parasites, and police said the body had not yet been identified.

Zimmer said the body was believed to be female, but decomposition meant he could not provide further details. He also said it was difficult to determine how long the remains had been at the site.

Two trail bike riders came across the body on an area deemed crown land. A crime scene was established overnight and forensic specialists searched the site.

Zimmer said officers were reviewing missing persons lists in both NSW and Queensland. A postmortem examination is expected in coming days to help identify the body and establish the cause of death.

Terragon is located in Tweed Shire, roughly 40km from the NSW-Queensland border. The property where the body was found sits near Murwillumbah in northern NSW.