Man charged with murdering former partner, dumping body in river

Detectives have made a breakthrough in the case of Queensland mother Crystal Beale, charging her former partner with her murder.

Beale, 49, was last seen in West End in February, before her body was discovered in the Brisbane River near the Brisbane Corso in Yeronga.

She had been with her former partner in the hours before her death, police said.

Crystal Beale was last seen alive on February 21, 2025.Credit: Queensland Police

Her death was initially ruled as non-suspicious by police because her body had “no obvious injuries”.

On Monday morning, police confirmed they had charged Beale’s former partner – a 49-year-old West End man – alleging he moved her body into the Brisbane River where it was found.

“Following extensive investigations, detectives conducted a search warrant at an Equestrian Drive address in Maudsland at 5.11am this morning,” police said.

The man was arrested at the scene and charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse.

He was expected to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

More to come

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