Body of woman found in suitcase south of Goulburn

A body, believed to be that of a woman, has been found in a “state of decomposition” inside a suitcase near Goulburn in the NSW Southern Tablelands, police say.

Emergency services were called to Wolgon Road at Oallen, about 60 kilometres south of Goulburn, at about 12.50pm on Sunday after reports the body had been found.

Two men had stopped on the side of the road and discovered the body under a pine tree on the fringes of dense bushland metres from the road.

The body is yet to be formally identified, and it is unclear how long the body had been there.

Officers have established a crime scene and have seized the suitcase for further examination. Forensic teams placed evidence markers and photographed the crime scene on Sunday night.

Detectives conducted preliminary investigations at the scene, including an initial review of the body, aided by forensics officers. The body was removed from the scene late on Sunday.

Hume District Commander Linda Bradbury said Wolgon Road was not a heavy route for traffic but was “travelled frequently”. She said the body was in a “state of decomposition”.

“Forensic examination is under way to assist us in identifying how long that suitcase has been there,” Bradbury told ABC 702 radio on Monday morning.

“There’s very little we know at this point in time. The investigation is in the early stages, and we really are relying on forensic evidence to tell us a bit more,” she said.

Police are working to match the remains with any outstanding missing persons on record.

Goulburn is 194 km south-west of Sydney via the Hume Freeway.

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