Found Deceased AUSTRALIA - Wendy Sleeman, 61, missing in Elanora, Gold Coast after house found ablaze, blood stains, hunt for son Jamie Murdok, 24 Jan 2023

Queensland police say it appears they have found the body of missing Gold Coast woman Wendy Sleeman in the back of a car on Brisbane's north side.

The 61-year-old has been missing since she contacted police on Tuesday.

Her 30-year-old son, Slade Murdok, was arrested overnight and charged with multiple offences including kidnapping.

More to come.

 
Found in the boot of a car :(

There has been a tragic development in the search of Gold Coast mum Wendy Sleeman, whose body has been discovered in the boot of a car in Brisbane’s inner north.

Sleeman’s body was found in the back of a blue Honda Jazz at a property in Windsor.

Police said Thursday evening it was a “tragic scene, a tragic circumstance”.

 
I wonder if perhaps Wendy had cut her son off, maybe she had always been a good mother and helped him - maybe by giving him money, and this was his reaction?
I suspect there's mental health or drugs tied up in this story, so the 'reason' might not be rational. But yes, I agree that cutting off financial support might have been a trigger.
 
I wonder if perhaps Wendy had cut her son off, maybe she had always been a good mother and helped him - maybe by giving him money, and this was his reaction?
Not sure about this. I’d say her making attempts to have him breached for contraventions of the domestic violence order would be the trigger. <modsnip - no link> So tragic. My opinion only.
 
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On Thursday morning, her son, Slade Murdok, appeared in Brisbane magistrates court facing multiple domestic violence charges over the disappearance of his mother.

The 30-year-old was on bail for unrelated offences when he was charged.

Murdok’s lawyer, Rodney Keyte, said the case against his client was weak despite the seriousness of the charges, which included domestic violence-related counts of kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson.

Based on the circumstantial evidence, Keyte said he highly doubted the case would make it past the committal stage and questioned what tied his client to the scene.

He was denied bail and the case was adjourned for mention on 14 February.
 
On Thursday morning, her son, Slade Murdok, appeared in Brisbane magistrates court facing multiple domestic violence charges over the disappearance of his mother.

The 30-year-old was on bail for unrelated offences when he was charged.

Murdok’s lawyer, Rodney Keyte, said the case against his client was weak despite the seriousness of the charges, which included domestic violence-related counts of kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson.

Based on the circumstantial evidence, Keyte said he highly doubted the case would make it past the committal stage and questioned what tied his client to the scene.

He was denied bail and the case was adjourned for mention on 14 February.
He's saying what a defense lawyer tends to say, but LE won't have shown all their cards at this point, just enough to justify the charges. For example, there will be mountains of stuff still being tested/awaiting testing, the autopsy may not have happened yet, etc. They had enough to press charges without that. So it's not going to get 'better' for his client, if he did it, it's going to get worse as all those results trickle in.
 
As is the investigating norm, start with the kin first and expand. The unsettling history between her and son sounds like a good path to follow first. The son changing names, you can call yourself a French fry but the print's, DNA and face remain the same. I would really focus on bodies of water nearby seeing that so many times that's where the missing end up. Double check, triple check since search teams have checked but missed on the first pass.
 
Queensland police say it appears they have found the body of missing Gold Coast woman Wendy Sleeman in the back of a car on Brisbane's north side.

The 61-year-old has been missing since she contacted police on Tuesday.

Her 30-year-old son, Slade Murdok, was arrested overnight and charged with multiple offences including kidnapping.

More to come.

This is so sad - it looks like authorities will be able to get some semblance of justice for Wendy.
 
Not sure about this. I’d say her making attempts to have him breached for contraventions of the domestic violence order would be the trigger. <modsnip - no link> So tragic. My opinion only.

Oh here’s one of many links!

“Ms Sleeman had also earlier called authorities after seeing her son near her workplace.”

Chilling details emerge in hunt for missing mother

It’s quite clear that she’s been trying to protect herself by breaching him. When a victim takes control back from a perpetrator they are at extreme (lethal) risk.

ETA… moo
 
Police believe the body of a missing Gold Coast woman has been found just hours after her son was denied bail over charges related to her disappearance.

The body believed to be that of Wendy Sleeman was found in a car in a hired garage in a property in Windsor, Brisbane.

Det Supt Brendan Smith told reporters on Thursday evening that police conducted electronic searches that led them to the location.

“Tragically, the body of a woman we believe to be Wendy was found inside the vehicle. This is a devastating outcome for her loved ones and our thoughts remain with them,” Smith said.

[...]

On Thursday morning, her son, Slade Murdok, appeared in Brisbane magistrates court facing multiple domestic violence charges over the disappearance of his mother.

The 30-year-old was on bail for unrelated offences when he was charged.

Murdok’s lawyer, Rodney Keyte, said the case against his client was weak despite the seriousness of the charges, which included domestic violence-related counts of kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson.

Based on the circumstantial evidence, Keyte said he highly doubted the case would make it past the committal stage and questioned what tied his client to the scene.

In opposing bail, police prosecutors argued they had a “very strong and very powerful” case against Murdok.

Officers found a pool of blood on the bathroom floor and drag marks along the floor, indicating the victim was bleeding heavily and unconscious, prosecutors said.

He was denied bail and the case was adjourned for mention on 14 February.

 

"Police prosecutor Bimal Raut told the court the 30-year-old was already on bail for two counts of serious assault on police.

It also heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, according to the Queensland publication."
 
Friends have paid tribute to popular Gold Coast dog breeder Wendy Sleeman, whose body was found in a car at a Brisbane apartment complex on Thursday.

Her son Slade Murdok was charged with multiple offences after being arrested at Durack in Brisbane's south on Wednesday afternoon.

[...]

The 61-year-old Ms Sleeman was reported missing from Elanora on the Gold Coast on Tuesday, prompting a desperate two-day police search to find her.

Police say the forensic examination of electronic data led them to a rented garage at Windsor on Thondley Street, on Brisbane's north side, where they found a blue Honda Jazz with the body inside.

Labrador Retriever Club of Queensland president Wilhelm Chang said Ms Sleeman was always there to help those in need.

"Wendy was a strong, intelligent, but soft-spoken woman with firm views on what she believes," Mr Chang said.

"Always there for those who were in need."

He said she was committed to Labrador retrievers and she had been involved with the breed for 27 years.

"Her love of the dogs was beyond their welfare, the absolute best breeding, their health, and above all, the best owners she can get for them. Some of her dogs had gone to guide dogs and as therapy dogs for autistic kids," Mr Chang said.

"The club are putting up a tribute in her Lissatink [kennel] name in a perpetual trophy and will get a special conformation show in her memorial in recognition reminder of her contribution to the community..."

Treasurer of the club, Cath Wardle, said Ms Sleeman was a popular member of the dog-breeding community.

"She was a lovely person and well-liked in the labrador land and it's just so sad," Ms Wardle said.

"I want to do something for her, I'm sure all the others will too."

She said Ms Sleeman's dogs are being looked after by a close friend.

[...]

 
Two articles on ABC today.

Autism support group pays tribute to co-founder Wendy Sleeman after body found in car

A community support group for families and carers of people with autism has paid tribute to Gold Coast woman Wendy Sleeman, whose body was found in a car at a Brisbane apartment complex this week.

Ms Sleeman helped establish the volunteer support service more than two decades ago.

'Community minded, caring and passionate': Wendy Sleeman remembered during Gold Coast vigil

Gold Coast woman Wendy Sleeman has been remembered as a loved member of the local community and loyal friend who was generous with her time at a candlelit vigil.

More than 100 people met at a park near her home in Elanora on Sunday evening, to pay tribute to the 61-year-old local woman.
 
JAN 31

Slade Murdok has been charged with murder over the death of his mother Wendy Sleeman.

The 30-year-old Queensland man is in custody, after he was previously charged with a string of offences including kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson.

 

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