NSW police mistake lifelike doll for human remains in suitcase near Goulburn
Consensus Summary
NSW police in Oallen, a town near Goulburn, were called on Sunday after two members of the public found a suitcase containing what they believed were human remains. The bag was sent to a forensic laboratory, and after 20 hours of examination, authorities confirmed the ‘body’ was actually a highly realistic sex doll with markings resembling bruises. Both the Guardian and ABC agree police followed proper procedure by transporting the suitcase to a mortuary to avoid contaminating evidence, as disturbing the scene could have destroyed critical forensic material. Experts from both sources emphasized the importance of treating all suspicious cases with caution, even when the contents turn out to be non-human. The investigation has since concluded, with no further action taken. While the Guardian highlights a press conference by Supt Linda Bradbury on Monday and mentions the public’s immediate reporting, the ABC focuses on the forensic process and the potential for realistic dolls to be mistaken for human remains.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A suitcase found on the side of the road near Oallen, a town near Goulburn, was initially believed to contain human remains by two members of the public.
- The suitcase was sent to a forensic medicine laboratory for examination after being reported on Sunday.
- Forensic examinations confirmed the ‘body’ was actually a life-like doll dressed in clothes with hair, a nose piercing, and markings resembling bruises and grazes.
- The investigation took 20 hours to determine the contents were not human.
- Police decided to examine the bag and its contents at a mortuary rather than at the remote Oallen crime scene to avoid destroying fragile forensic evidence.
- Police investigations into the doll have concluded, with no further action taken.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The discovery was made on Sunday, with a police statement released on the same day describing the body as believed to be female.
- Former NSW police officer Vincent Hurley stated that police followed correct procedure by not immediately opening the suitcase to avoid contaminating evidence.
- Supt Linda Bradbury held a press conference on Monday, stating police had 'no regrets' and commended the public for reporting the suspicious item.
- The public who discovered the suitcase pulled over, peeked inside, and called police immediately after suspecting it contained something suspicious.
- Paola Magni, a Murdoch University forensic science associate professor, noted that even after identifying the doll, forensic examiners would have continued inspecting it for traces of evidence like semen or DNA in case it was linked to another crime.
- Dr Xanthe Weston, a forensic expert, stated that the 20-hour time frame was not extraordinary and that highly realistic dolls can be mistaken for human remains.
- Police treated the discovery as a suspicious death, believing a potentially decomposed body was inside the bag in remote bushland with deteriorating light and weather conditions.
- Dr Weston recalled a similar case in Scotland where remains dug up by a dog walker turned out to be a sheep, highlighting the importance of preserving crime scenes.
- Police said there was 'no typical time frame' for determining whether unknown remains are human, as no two crime scenes are the same.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states police released a statement on Sunday describing the body as believed to be female, while the ABC does not mention this detail.
- The Guardian mentions a press conference held by Supt Linda Bradbury on Monday morning, but the ABC does not reference this event.
Source Articles
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