Found Deceased AUS - Tayla Spies,29, white 2017 dual cab Toyota Hilux I’d also missing. Left a hotel in Daley & travelled west to Surat, Queensland, 2 Feb 25

[Spectrix]

But why would her car be seen turning back the way she already came instead of the easy highway road home?
That’s the only thing that makes me believe something happened before surat.
I strongly believe she went to Condamine for a reason. If she was going to surat from Dalby why wouldn’t she take Surat development road which is 20 minutes shorter and a main road ? It also has petrol stations along the way so she didn’t need to go to Condamine for petrol.
Why would she go there ? & then be seen on cctv later in Surat, heading away from her home where she was apparently heading? That makes no sense to me.

I mean, it could be something as simple as Condamine being a more scenic route?
The other question is which route did she take from Condamine to Surat? She was on CCTV at Condamine at 9:20am, and Surat at 11:10am.

The shortest route to Surat should take under 1h 25m, but it appeared to take her 1h 50m, minus the fuel stop (10 minutes?) That leaves 15 minutes to spare. Did she spend 15 minutes in Surat before appearing on camera there? It's not even enough time to have a coffee if she was meeting friends. But perhaps it depends what kind of "friend" and the nature of the meeting.

I gather the CCTV in Surat showed her leaving, on her way around the block. That's the only way she'd be able to make it up to Noorindoo to be spotted at 11:30am near the Condamine HWY turnoff. (it's a 20 minute journey).

 

[Rocket333]

I mean, it could be something as simple as Condamine being a more scenic route?

No idea but I did notice that on the Condy BP fuel stop video, Tayla exited the petrol station onto the verge of the road and made a sharp turn back to park beside the bowser. She could have just turned straight off the highway to park beside the bowser but it looks like she first drove into the petrol station itself. If it was to get a drink or snack she could’ve done that when paying for the fuel. Maybe she parked to go to the loo, but she didn’t change shirts there. Maybe she simply got the fuel tank side wrong and had to turn the ute around. If so, the ute might not have been as familiar to her or she just forgot.

 

[LookingForClues]

Taking "the scenic route" or even just taking "the long way home" has certainly been in the back of my mind. I live in a rural area of Vermont and every errand is an excursion. I like to take a variety of routes so it's not boring. Plus it's beautiful where I live, and sometimes I feel like taking the route with the mountain view, other times I feel like driving around the lake. If I'm not in a hurry, I don't care if I add 20-30 minutes to my drive. I also find driving to be a great way to reflect on things if I'm upset or trying to figure out my next steps in life. My husband is like-minded on this. I suspect we're not the only one who feels this way, maybe Tayla did too.

So the route she took home doesn't necessarily make alarm bells go off. I'm more alarmed that her boyfriend didn't report her missing when she didn't come home that night. Maybe that's normal in their relationship. But I can't imagine being in a relationship with someone who doesn't wonder where I am if I don't come home AND I don't call with an update on my plans.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

So the route she took home doesn't necessarily make alarm bells go off. I'm more alarmed that her boyfriend didn't report her missing when she didn't come home that night. Maybe that's normal in their relationship. But I can't imagine being in a relationship with someone who doesn't wonder where I am if I don't come home AND I don't call with an update on my plans.

Shortened by me.
I also find it odd that he didn't report her missing until the next day. I wonder if there was a heated argument somewhere and he assumed she'd gone somewhere to cool off. Maybe that was a pattern with them? He has certainly been very, very quiet for someone who's partner went missing then turned up dead.

 

[Someone8746]

No idea but I did notice that on the Condy BP fuel stop video, Tayla exited the petrol station onto the verge of the road and made a sharp turn back to park beside the bowser. She could have just turned straight off the highway to park beside the bowser but it looks like she first drove into the petrol station itself. If it was to get a drink or snack she could’ve done that when paying for the fuel. Maybe she parked to go to the loo, but she didn’t change shirts there. Maybe she simply got the fuel tank side wrong and had to turn the ute around. If so, the ute might not have been as familiar to her or she just forgot.

I noticed that also - I also see her looking in the direction she came from several times whilst out of the car.

 

[BreakingNews]

Shortened by me.
I also find it odd that he didn't report her missing until the next day. I wonder if there was a heated argument somewhere and he assumed she'd gone somewhere to cool off. Maybe that was a pattern with them? He has certainly been very, very quiet for someone who's partner went missing then turned up dead.

We don't even know if she lived with him. If not, he might not have thought it weird that she didn't arrive at his place.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

We don't even know if she lived with him. If not, he might not have thought it weird that she didn't arrive at his place.

I thought we'd established they lived together, but I could be wrong. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Anonamouse]

I can’t find where it was established she was living with TN .

I thought we'd established they lived together, but I could be wrong. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Spectrix]

I did notice that on the Condy BP fuel stop video, Tayla exited the petrol station onto the verge of the road and made a sharp turn back to park beside the bowser. She could have just turned straight off the highway to park beside the bowser but it looks like she first drove into the petrol station itself.

Edit, finally found the longer version of the footage courtesy of QLD police.
I think you're implying that she entered the service station on the right out of frame (from the East) and then did a clockwise U-turn inside the servo?

Perhaps she went to the bowser nearest the building first and found it was petrol only? (I'm assuming the road side bowser is diesel). I run E85 ethanol and I'm forever doing loops inside the servo trying to work out where they've hidden the single elusive E85 bowser

 

[BreakingNews]

I can’t find where it was established she was living with TN .

They hadn't been together very long.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Edit, finally found the longer version of the footage courtesy of QLD police.
I think you're implying that she entered the service station on the right out of frame (from the East) and then did a clockwise U-turn inside the servo?

Perhaps she went to the bowser nearest the building first and found it was petrol only? (I'm assuming the road side bowser is diesel). I run E85 ethanol and I'm forever doing loops inside the servo trying to work out where they've hidden the single elusive E85 bowser

Given that she didn't fuel up in Dalby, where it would be cheaper, I'm going with the thought that her car was handled over to her by the employee without fueling up, and her not realising until well into her trip. Along those lines, I wonder if it also needed water in either the radiator or windscreen wiper reservoir, or the tyres needed pumping up? Perhaps she did either of those things just off camera, and did a tight turn to get to the bowser afterwards.

It is not at all uncommon for people to not care about a car that's not theirs. A lot of people wouldn't necessarily fuel up and return the car in pristine working order, especially if money is an issue. Some people would see that as a waste of a good tank of fuel.

 

[LookingForClues]

They hadn't been together very long.

Thanks, I could have sworn I'd read they lived together. <modsnip> Or did she live with family or a roommate?

 

[BreakingNews]

Given that she didn't fuel up in Dalby, where it would be cheaper, I'm going with the thought that her car was handled over to her by the employee without fueling up, and her not realising until well into her trip. Along those lines, I wonder if it also needed water in either the radiator or windscreen wiper reservoir, or the tyres needed pumping up? Perhaps she did either of those things just off camera, and did a tight turn to get to the bowser afterwards.

It is not at all uncommon for people to not care about a car that's not theirs. A lot of people wouldn't necessarily fuel up and return the car in pristine working order, especially if money is an issue. Some people would see that as a waste of a good tank of fuel.

But when used to driving longer distances, having enough fuel would be vital. She was used to living in the bush. She would have known. MOO

 

[ShadowsTrail]

I mean, it could be something as simple as Condamine being a more scenic route?
The other question is which route did she take from Condamine to Surat? She was on CCTV at Condamine at 9:20am, and Surat at 11:10am.

The shortest route to Surat should take under 1h 25m, but it appeared to take her 1h 50m, minus the fuel stop (10 minutes?) That leaves 15 minutes to spare. Did she spend 15 minutes in Surat before appearing on camera there? It's not even enough time to have a coffee if she was meeting friends. But perhaps it depends what kind of "friend" and the nature of the meeting.

I gather the CCTV in Surat showed her leaving, on her way around the block. That's the only way she'd be able to make it up to Noorindoo to be spotted at 11:30am near the Condamine HWY turnoff. (it's a 20 minute journey).

I did a map on it all here - back on page 6.
"ok. Facts.
She's seen at 8.08am in Dalby on CCTV.
She's seen at 9.20am in Condamine BP on CCTV
Her Car is seen at 11.10am in Surat, heading south.\

Dalby to Surat, via Miles and Condamine is 3hrs 13min, not including the time taken to fill up. It's 1hr and 47min from Dalby to BP. She should arrive in Surat, no stops - at 11.21am

If we remove Miles; that's 2hr 49; again no stops; it's 1hr and 23 from Dalby to BP. Surat earliest would arrive is 10.57am.

This shows she likes to speed/high limit - because the earliest she should have been at the BP was 9.30am (1hr 23min from 8.08am Dalby, and if she went via Miles, it would have been 9.55am; a full 30min. And really, she's packing the car at 8.08am, so another few min there before leaving; then 50km roads in town etc."

 

[Anonamouse]

Thanks, I could have sworn I'd read they lived together. Do we know if she lived alone with her kids? Or did she live with family or a roommate?

<modsnip - off topic>

I don’t believe she lived with TN .

 

[marv hucker]

We don't even know if she lived with him. If not, he might not have thought it weird that she didn't arrive at his place.

It was suggested in the very first “missing person” posts that she **was** known to go off the beaten track.
The police not going to the press for nearly a fortnight goes to the same point.

Some people are not predictable.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

But when used to driving longer distances, having enough fuel would be vital. She was used to living in the bush. She would have known. MOO

Yet there she was, feuling up in Condamine.

I'm not disagreeing with you, I actually think you're right, but maybe the expectation or agreement was that it would be returned with a full tank and it wasn't.

Due to the time stamps on CCTV at both the hotel and the service station, there was no time to have driven enough to have exhausted a full fuel tank, so for whatever reason she chose to fill up there. Maybe she had a delivery at the BP and decided to top up while she was there?

If she went the most direct route from the Windsor Hotel in Dalby to the BP in Condamine, she would actually pass several fuel stations on her way out of town. I think I counted 3 before I gave up. Perhaps 1 or 2 may be small Ma and Pa type businesses that may be closed on Sunday, or not open at 8am, but regardless, there would have been an option in Dalby.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

On the fuel front, I just had a thought, and I'm ashamed it took me so long to think it, but what if she was in a hurry to get out of Dalby? Maybe she'd heard word that someone was wanting to catch up with her, and not in a good way, so she hightailed it out of there? Maybe that person(s) caught up with her near Surat where stuff went down. It would explain her lead foot too, and maybe even her unusual path towards home?

 

[BreakingNews]

On the fuel front, I just had a thought, and I'm ashamed it took me so long to think it, but what if she was in a hurry to get out of Dalby? Maybe she'd heard word that someone was wanting to catch up with her, and not in a good way, so she hightailed it out of there? Maybe that person(s) caught up with her near Surat where stuff went down. It would explain her lead foot too, and maybe even her unusual path towards home?

She did leave rather early on the Sunday morning. I would have stayed in bed, had breakfast and left around 10am. But that's me.

 

[BreakingNews]

Taking "the scenic route" or even just taking "the long way home" has certainly been in the back of my mind. I live in a rural area of Vermont and every errand is an excursion. I like to take a variety of routes so it's not boring. Plus it's beautiful where I live, and sometimes I feel like taking the route with the mountain view, other times I feel like driving around the lake. If I'm not in a hurry, I don't care if I add 20-30 minutes to my drive. I also find driving to be a great way to reflect on things if I'm upset or trying to figure out my next steps in life. My husband is like-minded on this. I suspect we're not the only one who feels this way, maybe Tayla did too.

So the route she took home doesn't necessarily make alarm bells go off. I'm more alarmed that her boyfriend didn't report her missing when she didn't come home that night. Maybe that's normal in their relationship. But I can't imagine being in a relationship with someone who doesn't wonder where I am if I don't come home AND I don't call with an update on my plans.

Taking a scenic route in Vermont is not the same as taking the scenic route in outback Australia. I used to drive weekly for over 3 hours each way in the Northern Territory, and I never once considered a more scenic route unless I had a specific purpose. Every road was much the same.