Toya Cordingley murder suspect found and arrested in India

A prime suspect has been arrested in India after a young Queensland woman was allegedly murdered while walking her dog.

A close-knit community near Cairns was rocked when Toya Cordley died while walking his dog on Wangetti Beach in October 2018.

Her body was found the next morning by her father, who went looking for Ms. Corddry when she had not returned home.

Earlier this month, police stepped up efforts to close the investigation and offered a $1 million reward.

A 38-year-old woman, the prime suspect, fled the country days after Mr Cordingley was allegedly murdered.

The former nurse left behind his job, wife and three children.

Queensland police said they located Mr Singh and later arrested him in New Delhi by Indian law enforcement.

“Hundreds of cops around the world, thousands of hours, millions of reasons and billions of eyes around the world are helping to bring justice to Toya,” Police Minister Mark Ryan said on Friday. told the media in the afternoon.

“I would like to take this opportunity to salute the Queensland Police for all their hard work…Since 2018, they have been relentless. They never gave up.”

Ryan said the “next steps” to achieve justice are just beginning, but there are systems that need to “run its course.”

He said he was “out of breath” when detectives in the case spoke of the new revelation.

“I can understand how she and the team feel,” Ryan said.

Police Commissioner Catalina Carroll said she was “thrilled” to announce Singh’s arrest.

I was looking forward to that day. Toya was reported missing in October 2018 before her body was tragically discovered.

Mr Singh plans to appear in court in India before extradition proceedings are sent to Australia.

Carroll said he was believed to have “avoided unrest” in the Punjab region since traveling to India on October 23, 2018.

“I know how badly this has affected a close-knit community…a safe, remote area that has witnessed this horrific crime,” Carroll said.

“Toya’s murder shocked everyone in the world and infuriated everyone in Queensland.”

Carroll said Cordingley was a “beautiful and much loved” person who had just spent the day he was allegedly murdered.

Toya’s family was quickly informed that Singh was arrested on Friday.

“I think they’re very happy with this phase of the investigation, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Carroll said.

“This is one of the most intensive and comprehensive studies in the world.”

The commissioner said she felt “uplifted and relieved” when she heard the news of Singh’s arrest, and felt happiness and “bittersweet sadness” for her family.

She said she was “very confident” that a strong case would be brought to court in regards to Ms. Cordingley’s case.

Police worked with the Australian Federal Police, the Department of the Federal Attorney General and Indian authorities to locate Mr Singh.

The extradition order was secured by Australia’s Attorney General last month and approved by the Indian government.

The order signed means local authorities have the power to arrest the man and bring him to Queensland.

David Trimble, a spokesman for the bereaved family, told NCA NewsWire at the time that the local community never fully recovered from Toya’s death, with many staying away from the beach in the months that followed. .

“Communities, families and authorities never give up,” Trimble said.

“What happened was horrific and it really shocked the community here.

“It was right next to us and it was really bad. It shook a lot of people.”

event timeline

2018

October 21: Toya Cordingley drives to Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, to walk her dog, but never comes back.

October 22nd: Her body was found in a shallow grave by her father.

October 23rd: Rajwinder Singh flies to India, leaving Cairns and passing through Sydney.

2021

march: An extradition request has been submitted to the Indian government to return Mr Singh on suspicion of murder.

October: Government of India approves extradition order.

November: A $1 million reward was offered for Mr. Singh’s capture.

November 25: Mr Singh was in India and was arrested.