Australian police, who were summoned to investigate a body discovered in a suitcase, have determined that the “victim” was actually a lifelike doll.
Two men found the suitcase beside a road near Oallen, a small village approximately 230 km (143 miles) southwest of Sydney.
On Monday, police initially announced a murder investigation that generated significant interest in the case. However, just hours later, they reversed their statement after forensic tests revealed that the contents were not human.
Superintendent Linda Bradbury from the Hume Police District said that the contents of the suitcase “were initially mistaken for a human because they are extremely realistic in appearance, resembling human remains.”
“However, we’ve verified through other methods that they are not.”
Police reported that the doll was wearing clothes, had hair and a nose piercing. They also noted that “the item displayed markings resembling bruises and grazes.”
Superintendent Bradbury stated that forensic teams and investigators were present at the scene on Sunday, ensuring all procedures were properly followed.
“The goal is to disturb crime scenes as little as possible in order to preserve the integrity of our investigation,” Bradbury said, adding that she had “no regrets” about how the case was handled.
Earlier, Bradbury informed the media that it was “quite a shocking discovery” for the two men who came across the suitcase.
“Regrettably, like many others on a weekend drive, they decided to take a break,” she stated.
She mentioned that the two of them made the “right decision” by reporting their discovery.
Bradbury said, “They were impacted yesterday, and we will reach out to inform them that it was not human remains.”
The police have concluded their investigations.
