Australian police have closed an investigation into a suspected murder after discovering the "contents" of a suitcase on a roadside were a lifelike doll. The incident began Sunday afternoon when two men reported finding what they believed to be a body in a suitcase near Oallen, a village southwest of Sydney.
Authorities announced a murder investigation on Monday, which attracted significant public attention. However, hours later, police confirmed that forensic analysis showed the item was not human remains. The suitcase contained a realistic doll with clothing, hair, and a nose piercing, along with markings that resembled bruises and grazes.
Superintendent Linda Bradbury of the Hume Police District stated that the doll was "mistaken for a human originally, so they are very realistic in terms of looking like human remains." She assured that all investigative processes had been followed and expressed no regrets about the handling of the case, emphasizing the importance of maintaining crime scene integrity.
Bradbury had earlier described the discovery as "quite a shocking discovery" for the two men who found the suitcase while on a weekend drive. Police believe the men made the correct decision to report their find and have arranged to inform them that no human remains were involved. The investigation has now been concluded.