SYDNEY, Australia: Australian police have closed a murder investigation after discovering that what appeared to be human remains found inside a suitcase was actually a highly realistic doll.
Two men found the suitcase beside a road near the small village of Oallen, about 230km (143 miles) south-west of Sydney, and reported their discovery to police.
Officers initially treated the case as a potential murder and launched an investigation on Monday.
Doll Mistaken For Human Remains
Forensic testing later established that the contents were not human.
Supt Linda Bradbury of the Hume Police District said the item had initially been mistaken for human remains because it was “very realistic in terms of looking like human remains”.
“But we’ve confirmed by other means that they are not,” she said.
Police said the doll was wearing clothing, had hair and a nose piercing. It also had markings that resembled bruises and grazes, adding to the impression that it could be a victim.
Police Defend Investigation
Supt Bradbury said forensic teams and investigators had attended the scene on Sunday and followed established procedures.
“The idea is to not disturb crime scenes as much as possible, to maintain the integrity of our investigation,” she said, adding that she had “no regrets” about how the case had been handled.
Earlier, Bradbury described the discovery as “quite a shocking discovery” for the two men who found the suitcase.
She said the pair had been on a weekend drive and had stopped for a break when they came across it.
“They were affected yesterday, and we will be in touch to let them know that it was not human remains,” she said.
Police praised the men for reporting the suitcase and said they had made the “right decision”.
The investigation has now been closed.
