Man charged with the alleged murder of mum found dead in Brisbane River

A man has been charged with murder seven months after the body of a mum who was found in the Brisbane River.

Crystal Beale, from Brisbane, Australia, was found dead by a member of the public in the Brisbane River in the city suburb of Yeronga at 5:40am on February 22.

Just hours before, Crystal was at dinner with her former partner and son in the south of Brisbane. The trio stayed together until around 9:30pm when Crystal got out of a car in Brisbane’s West End.

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In CCTV footage Crystal, 49, can be seen in beige sandals and a white dress at a restaurant. Police believe it is the last sign of Crystal on the night she was found dead.

Fast forward seven months and detectives from Dutton Park Criminal Investigations Branch and the Homicide Investigation Unit have charged a man with the alleged murder of the 49-year-old.

A police statement reads: "Operation Xray Saba was established to piece together not only what happened that night, but Crystal’s life leading up to her alleged murder.

"It is alleged at 8.30pm on Friday, February 21, Crystal left a family dinner at a Sunnybank restaurant and travelled with a 49-year-old West End man, who was known to her, in a car to West End. Crystal’s last alleged sighting was by the 49-year-old West End man when she left the car at 9.30pm on Ryan Street, West End.

"Detectives have conducted relentless investigations, combing through over a thousand hours of CCTV and conducting multiple appeals for information to find justice for Crystal.

"Police will allege the 49-year-old West End man murdered Crystal and moved her body into the Brisbane River where it was later located. Following extensive investigations, detectives conducted a search warrant at an Equestrian Drive address in Maudsland at 5.11am this morning, 22 September.

"A 49-year-old male was arrested at the location and has since been charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse. He is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court today."

Detective Inspector Wayne Francis says offences of this nature have a devastating impact on family, friends and the community. He said: "It is reprehensible what happened to Crystal. Over the past seven months detectives have been tirelessly investigating every avenue possible to find answers for her family. We were not going to give up until we could provide these answers and get justice for Crystal.”