Australia - Donna Steele, 42, murdered, Cooktown, Qld, 2 Aug 2017

Donna Louise Steele murder: Police say mother-of-two knew her killer
Andrew Koubaradis news.com.au
AUGUST 7, 2017 3:20pm



'SOME residents of Cooktown are worried and scared — but the mayor of the far north Queensland town fears others are hiding a killer secret.

The community has been on a knife-edge ever since mother-of-two Donna Steele disappeared on August 2 and was found days later in a crocodile-infested creek. The 42-year-old’s body was wrapped in some kind of material, but her cause of death has not yet been released.

Homicide detectives and other specialist police have converged on Cooktown, 328 kilometres north of Cairns. They say the killer is probably someone Ms Steele knew and who had ties to Cooktown, and that is what is causing anxiety among the town’s 2600 residents.'

'Police seized a number of items during a new search of the creek where Ms Steele’s body was found. Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh told The Cairns Post several items were found which “may be relevant” but nothing significant. At least 10 items, including a mobile phone case, were missing from her home and may contain evidence to help identify her killer.

The brutal killing has been the talk of the town. Ms Steele was relatively new to Cooktown was very popular and well known. She worked as a cabin cleaner at Cooktown’s Peninsula Caravan Park and her two young boys attended a local school.

The boys, aged 8 and 10, were left to fend for themselves for a night when they came from school and she wasn’t home. Ms Steele’s distinctive white ute was parked at the home, but she was nowhere to be seen.'

'Police believe she was probably dead by that time after meeting her killer at the home. From there, she was either abducted or willingly went with the killer.

Mr Scott, who has been mayor for nine years, said violent crime was not a usual occurrence. But there have been increasing fears of the effects ice was having on residents. “Two years ago, we identified there was an ice problem. We got people in to speak at schools and speak to students ... It’s here, we are aware of it.”

There has been speculation the drug underworld could hold the key to solving the murder. Mr Scott wondered if there were was a link.

Residents have told of ice and marijuana use, and police have called for witnesses to come forward, regardless of their criminal past.'

Read more at:

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...m/news-story/c8d7a7c9bf67e1d4ad5acd7096a3c54d

A MOTHER-of-two found dead in crocodile-infested waters in far north Queensland was likely murdered by someone she knew.

Donna Louise Steele’s body was discovered in a remote creek early on Sunday, four days after the 42-year-old was reported missing by her partner.

She was last seen alive on Wednesday at an IGA supermarket in Cooktown. Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh told media today the body found in Isabella Creek hadn’t yet been positively identified, but investigators believed it was Ms Steele.

When asked if there were any suspects he said police had a “number of lines of inquiry” — and ruled out the killing as a random act.

“We are confident that [the killer] was a person known to her.”'

Read more at:

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...r/news-story/366ebdc43ddd272ff32770f03cf3e59f

Far North Queensland mum’s body was found in an isolated creek, police confirm
Grace Mason, Cairns Post
AUGUST 8, 20178:12am

'THE body of a woman likely murdered in Far North Queensland was found by a friend in an isolated creek not far from his property.

Mark Seears discovered the wrapped female body, believed to be missing woman Donna Louise Steele, 42, on Sunday morning in Isabella Creek, a tributary of the Endeavour River about 20km west of Cooktown.

He and partner Roslyn Avard, who is one of Ms Steele’s closest friends, have neighbouring properties a short drive from the creek and had spent last week helping with the search when Ms Steele was reported missing last Thursday.

The pair have both been helping police since the grisly discovery and both their properties are currently crime scenes, but Far North Det Insp Geoff Marsh said yesterday Mr Seears had “been very co-operative”.

Police are considering a four-hour window last Wednesday to be crucial to their investigation — between when Ms Steele was last seen in a Cooktown supermarket and when her two young sons arrived at their Poison Creek Rd home from school to find her gone.'

'CCTV inside the IGA supermarket on Helen St identified her at 12.15pm and the children, aged 8 and 10, got home about 4pm.

Her husband returned from working out of town on Thursday and immediately raised the alarm.

Det Insp Marsh said police were confident whoever was responsible for her death was someone she knew. He said police were calling on anyone who had seen her near-new white Toyota HiLux between Wednesday and Sunday morning to contact them.'

Read more at:

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...m/news-story/c3a1e6cb97e7f8b42717de85d0ee0a76

Donna Steele murder mystery: Who killed mother-of-two and left her body in croc-infested creek?
Andrew Koubaridis news.com.au
AUGUST 9, 20172:29pm

'THE small far north Queensland town of Cooktown has been overrun by rumour and innuendo and a single question — who killed loving mum-of-two Donna Steele?

It has been a week since the 42-year-old was last seen alive, and four days since her body, wrapped in material, was found in crocodile infested Isabella Creek about 12km from the home she shared with her husband and two small boys.

Her husband — who is not considered a suspect — was working away from Cooktown and returned home on Thursday to find her missing.

Heartbreakingly, her two boys, aged 8 and 10, came home from school on Wednesday and found their mum gone. They ate biscuits for dinner and put themselves to bed, and then got up and took themselves to school the next day.

Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh, who is leading the hunt for Ms Steele’s killer, said: “They’ve got themselves to school the next day, didn’t tell anyone at the school or any teacher what had happened.”

“You can only imagine” what the boys went through over that 24 hours “without their mother and not knowing what their future held for them,” he told media.

Ms Steele’s husband, a mechanic, raised the alarm on Thursday night and a desperate search began. It ended in tragedy when her body was found partly submerged in the creek close to the property of her close friends Rosyln Avard and Mark Sears. Both had been involved in the search for her.

The couple lived about 5km from where her body was found.'

Read more at[/U]:

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...k/news-story/59f23412f372f7b1ec64076a609868c2

Drug underworld could hold answer to killing of Cooktown mum Donna Steele
David Murray, The Courier-Mail
August 12, 2017 12:00am

'COOKTOWN’S booming drug trade is being scrutinised as police seek a motive for the suspected murder of mum-of-two Donna Steele.

Residents have told of rampant ice and marijuana use in the frontier town, as police call for witnesses to come forward regardless of their criminal past.

Almost a week after the discovery of Ms Steele’s body, wrapped and floating in a creek, detectives are swarming the town in search of answers.

Their presence has generated both relief and trepidation in a community that wants the case solved but is not altogether comfortable with prying outside eyes.'

Read more at:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...e/news-story/4d60012a7feb020d91d09749f4e779b4

New police appeal to find Qld mum's killer
Shae McDonald
Australian Associated Press/news.com.au
OCTOBER 10, 2017 2:19pm

‘Queensland police have renewed calls for information about the murder of Cooktown mum Donna Steele, as the pool of people who could be responsible gets smaller.’

‘Detective Acting Superintendent Geoff Marsh said homicide investigators had remained in the far north Queensland community for the past two months and had conducted more than "1000 lines" of inquiry.

"To date we do not have any firm suspects," he said on Tuesday, adding police believed the killer was still in Cooktown.

"We have no evidence that would lead us to be able to substantiate a prosecution of any person and we still require that one piece of information as to who committed this crime."

Supt Marsh said even though it had become one of the "most protracted cases" in far north Queensland in recent years, he was hopeful pressure was mounting on those involved.

"We believe from our experience that these secrets are very hard to keep," he said.

"Eventually people will talk, people will tell someone else, people will make a mention of what they know to a trusted party."

Supt Marsh said the pool of people police were yet to speak to was getting smaller, adding investigators were requesting DNA and fingerprints from everyone.

"It'll come down to such a small pool that the pressure will be on the one or two or three individuals that have knowledge of this crime or have participated in this event will come forward, especially those who may not have been directly involved in the death of Donna," he said.

People who were in the IGA store between 11am and 1pm on August 2 have also been urged to come forward, as have those who drove or hitchhiked on Poison Creek Road, Oaky Creek Road or the Endeavour Valley Road on that day.’

Read more at:

http://www.news.com.au/national/bre...r/news-story/3493175e829d3da8128cefb36abc0e41

Shoe could lead to Queensland mum's killer

Published: 2:51 pm, Tuesday, 31 October 2017

A shoe could help police solve the murder of Cooktown mum Donna Steele, whose body was found at a popular fishing spot four days after she vanished.
Police are about to make another public appeal for information, hoping to identify the owner of the size 10 black Champion running shoe which was found at an undisclosed search site.

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/qld/2017/10/31/shoe-could-lead-to-queensland-mum-s-killer.html

I have to say I thought this would be a quick arrest for this poor woman's murder
There's under 2500 people living there plus the tourist going through to top


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/02/23/08/40/reward-to-solve-cooktown-s-steele-murder

Police offer $250,000 reward to solve Cooktown mum's murder
12:40pm Feb 23, 2018

Queensland police have offered a $250,000 reward to help solve the murder of Cooktown woman Donna Steele.
The mother of two's body was found in August last year in the Endeavour River at Cooktown, in Cape York.
Police minister Mark Ryan announced today the reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the "tragic" crime.
"We want to close this case," Mr Ryan told reporters.
"We want to provide closure to Donna's family. But we also want to make sure the person or people involved in this crime are held to account.
"That's why we have taken this extraordinary step of offering a reward."

Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said any possible accomplices, such as someone who helped dispose of clothing or weapons, could be granted immunity from prosecution if they came forward with vital information.
"It provides indemnity from prosecution for a person not involved in the actual offence," Det Insp Hansen said."As long as they are not the person who actually murdered Donna they are eligible."

Hi Symbah thanks for update. Not sure whether he was just using examples but it almost reads like they know there's people who aided after the fact and are encouraging them to come forward.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm wondering the same Horror. I did come across this though that depicts police suspecting or perhaps even knowing that that others may be withholding information due to loyalty.

http://www.newsport.com.au/2018/feb...00-reward-to-help-solve-cooktown-mums-murder/

POLICE have dangled a $250,000 reward for information to help solve the murder of Cooktown woman Donna Steele.

Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh told reporters the investigation had been exhausted and a cash incentive could help break 'misguided loyalties' preventing an arrest.

Police believe a small group of ‘interconnected people’ in the Cooktown area have direct information into what happened to the mother-of-two.

I posted on another thread about Allecha in regards to smaller towns. I would add They are usually filled with chatter but not the actual chatter needed to help solve things unless someone actually comes forward. I had originally wondered whether she met up with a nasty tourist but and now starting to think yes local. With only 2000 in Cooktown makes the $$ a carrot perhaps
I feel for her children who got themselves up for school iirc and the husband who had to come back into town. Sad


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkl

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/20...-provided-police-steele-murder-investigation/

I hope this link works. But police now think through a new tip that the person/s responsible are not from Cooktown but maybe as far away as Cairns (that's not that far) and a couple people in town covering up for them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2018/03/03/man-charged-donna-steele-murder-investigation/

This was a quick update to the above
It includes a timeline also


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the updates Horror. And now more unfolding. Poor Donna and her her loved ones.

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...g/news-story/69961c0811923fd0812195f3f36d52cf

Detectives say Donna Steele’s murder was a robbery gone wrong
POLICE say this promising young footy player hatched a chilling plan to ambush a mother of two who was murdered and dumped in crocodile-infested water in Queensland.

DETECTIVES believe that a young footballer waited in a mother’s house before he murdered her in a robbery gone wrong.
Matthew Ross White, 25, was arrested at his Cairns home on Friday night and charged with the murder of Cooktown mum Donna Steele, whose body was found dumped in a crocodile-infested lagoon seven months ago. He is also charged with interfering with a corpse and entering a dwelling with intent.
Police say they have DNA linking Mr White to the scene where Ms Steele, 42, was found.

Good

http://www.news.com.au/national/bre...l/news-story/58d88c03e60114941f86d53bff7b56ea
The man accused of killing Cooktown mum Donna Steele is in hospital after reportedly being bashed in jail.
Matthew Ross White, 25, was attacked by a group of inmates shortly after arriving at the Lotus Glen Correctional Facility on Tuesday afternoon, The Cairns Post reports.
He was taken to the Mareeba Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

I saw a picture of the accused but it was behind a paywall I couldn't get to - he is literally baby faced. I feel sad for the fact it reads almost like they were family friends.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A bit more on the two families connection.
Noting from the link he will be back in court on May 2.

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...e/news-story/786cd56704d01aab71473b87856735ef
Police have said Mr White and Ms Steele were known to each other. News.com.au has been told Mr White’s mother lives near where Ms Steele lived, and the two families knew each other.

symbah said:

A bit more on the two families connection.
Noting from the link he will be back in court on May 2.

http://www.news.com.au/national/que...e/news-story/786cd56704d01aab71473b87856735ef
Police have said Mr White and Ms Steele were known to each other. News.com.au has been told Mr White’s mother lives near where Ms Steele lived, and the two families knew each other.

Click to expand...

Thanks Symbah, poor Donna and her family. The shoe was weighted down with a rock ! They are not saying motive yet except the earlier report of robbery. But it seemed to say a robbery but he also lay in wait so I guess we will have to wait for the rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Accused Killer Of Cooktown Mum Donna Steele In Court

03 May 2018

The man accused of killing Cooktown mum Donna Steele will remain behind bars, after having his case briefly mentioned in Cairns Magistrates Court. Matthew Ross White is charged with murder, interfering with a corpse and burglary after the body of the local mum was found in Isabella Creek on August 6 2017. White was arrested and charged in early 2018. Prosecutors failed to provide the complete brief of evidence to lawyers on time so the matter was adjourned to September 26.