Young Mother's Death Ruled Non-Suspicious by Police
Authorities have concluded their investigation into the discovery of Payge Leembruggen's body on a Queensland beach, determining there were no suspicious circumstances.
Police are now treating the death of 31-year-old Payge Leembruggen, whose body was found on a Queensland beach, as non-suspicious. The discovery was made by a dog walker in sand dunes near North Wall beach in Mackay on Tuesday.
Ms. Leembruggen was last seen on Friday, September 11, when her grandfather drove her to a hair salon appointment in Mackay. She later texted him stating she no longer required a ride home to the family's rural property. Her movements between that time and when her body was found on Tuesday morning remain unclear.
A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed that a report will be prepared for the coroner. "Officers and the woman’s family would like to sincerely thank members of the community for their assistance, information, and support throughout the investigation," the spokesperson stated.
According to her grandfather, David Leembruggen, police informed the family that Ms. Leembruggen had no visible injuries on her body. Her body is currently in Townsville for forensic testing.
Ms. Leembruggen leaves behind her young son, Nakoa, who has category three autism and is reportedly unaware of his mother's death. He is currently in the care of his grandmother and great-grandparents. It is understood that Ms. Leembruggen was not reported missing before her body was found, as it was not uncommon for her to be out of contact for several days.
Her family learned of her death when police arrived at their home on Tuesday. Mr. Leembruggen mentioned that Ms. Leembruggen had a tendency to keep her family uninformed about her plans. Police are appealing for any information regarding Ms. Leembruggen's whereabouts in the four days prior to her body being discovered. A friend of the family reported seeing a Snapchat video of Ms. Leembruggen dancing with an unidentified woman over the weekend, but the post has since disappeared.
Initial reports indicated that police were treating her death as suspicious. Some friends had speculated about the involvement of her former partner, Cris Wilesmith, the father of their son. Mr. Wilesmith has denied any involvement, stating that a restraining order prevented him from being near Ms. Leembruggen or their son for several years. He acknowledged the speculation and said he had been in Mackay over the weekend but did not contact Ms. Leembruggen.
Mr. Wilesmith revealed that Ms. Leembruggen was the alleged victim in a kidnapping and assault case in 2024, which is currently before the courts and did not involve him. He expressed devastation over her death, emphasizing the impact on their son. Mr. Wilesmith indicated his intention to consult a lawyer regarding his rights to reconnect with Nakoa.
Family and friends described Ms. Leembruggen as a friendly person who often struggled with her relationships. A friend alleged that she had escaped a domestic violence situation the previous year. In June, Ms. Leembruggen had posted on social media seeking housing, mentioning that she had left a "bad DV relationship" and lost everything.
A GoFundMe appeal has been established by a friend, Safiira Shah, to support Ms. Leembruggen's son, Nakoa. The funds raised will go towards his specialist care and future financial needs. Ms. Shah remembered Ms. Leembruggen as an empathetic person who prioritized others' needs.