Entire community to be DNA tested after woman found dead on beach
People living nearby are set to be DNA tested as it’s revealed Toyah Cordingley would not have been able to call for help.
The 24-year-old disappeared after walking her dog along the isolated Wangetti Beach on Sunday afternoon before her body was found in the nearby dunes with “visible” and “violent” injuries on Monday.
A police investigation stretching beyond the isolated beach north to Port Douglas and south to Cairns will continue on Thursday with extra detectives flying up from Brisbane to help find her killer.
Police have been knocking on doors and taking DNA swabs at homes near the beach.
“I’m perfectly fine with that because I’ve got nothing to hide and if it helps them track down who did this to her, then I’m all for it,” an unnamed resident told the ABC.
A family friend also used social media to describe the heartbreak of the discovery of Ms Cordingley’s body.
“That morning Kieran rang me his heart was broken because you were missing,” Les Ley wrote on Facebook.
“Then Kieran rang me back to say you were gone oh god I never cried so much when I heard what he told me and Kieran’s heart was shattered to pieces that his little sister was gone.”
Victim was in a mobile phone black spot
Ms Cordingley would have struggled to phone for help as she was in a mobile phone black spot, it’s been revealed.
“Even if Toyah had her phone, and was in fear of her life, there is no signal, and she would not have been able to make an emergency call for help,” local business owner Angela Freeman told The Courier Mail.
“To us, that black spot only adds to the tragedy.
‘A disgusting, horrific act’
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu pleaded with the public to help solve Ms Cordingley’s murder, saying: “it is extremely chilling to think a murderer is out there”.
“This is a disgusting, horrific and fatal act of violence against a young woman who was enjoying what so many people do on a daily basis – walk along our beautiful beaches,” Ms Leu said.
A visit to Rusty’s Markets in Cairns by Ms Cordingley before she headed to the beach is part of the investigation, police say.
“If anybody has spoken to her at that location please come forward,” Detective Inspector Sonia Smith told reporters on Tuesday.
Appeals have also been made for dash cam footage from drivers who travelled between Cairn’s suburb Smithfield and Port Douglas using the Captain Cook Highway between 12pm and 7pm on Sunday.
Det Insp Smith said detectives were particularly interested in obtaining footage from the northern and southern car park areas of Wangetti beach.
Cairns will host its annual Reclaim the Night walk to raise awareness about sexual violence against women on Friday.
