A man and woman have been arrested after a woman was found dead on the banks of a creek three weeks ago.
Danielle Easey – who made national news when she was born during the 1989 Newcastle earthquake – was found dead and wrapped in plastic on the banks of Cockle Creek at Lake Macquarie on August 31.
She is believed to have been killed up to three weeks beforehand.
Ms Easey – who made national news when she was born during the 1989 Newcastle earthquake – was found dead and wrapped in plastic on the banks of Cockle Creek at Lake Macquarie on August 31
On Thursday detectives arrested a 33-year-old man at an industrial premise at Cardiff just before 10am.
He has been taken to Belmont Police Station.
About an hour later, a 32-year-old woman was arrested at a home at Holmesville and taken to Toronto Police Station.
Detectives searched the Cardiff industrial premise and a home at Narara.
They also searched the Holmesville house and have seized a Mitsubishi Delica at Cardiff.
On Saturday, the boyfriend of Danielle ‘Dell’ Easey said he would never forgive himself for not being there when she was killed as hundreds gathered to farewell the mother-of-two in a packed service.
Ben Todd, who is serving a sentence at Shortland Correctional Centre for common assault and damaging property, was behind bars at the time of her death.
He arrived at the service in Ryhope, near Newcastle wearing handcuffs and leg chains, flanked by two prison officers to prevent him from fleeing custody during the service.
‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you,’ he said through tears. ‘I’ll never forgive myself.’
Benjamin Todd, the boyfriend of Danielle Easey, delivered an emotional tribute at her funeral on Saturday. He had arrived on day release from prison, where he is locked up on charges of damaging property and assault
Mr Todd told mourners he would ‘never forgive himself’ for not being able to protect Ms Easey, whose body was found wrapped up in plastic on the banks of Cockle Creek in Lake Macquarie
Mr Todd said he had ‘the most amazing time’ with Ms Easey, who he said made him laugh every day and showered him with gifts, as he did for her.
‘I truly loved her and I’m so glad I got to spend what little time I had with her,’ he said.
Ms Easey’s sister Tahnee told the crowd she was still ‘speechless’ over the sudden loss of her beloved sibling.
‘There aren’t enough words in the world for you,’ she said.
‘You were my soulmate and my best friend. You were a sensational mother, not only to your children but to everyone around you.
‘I could talk for hours about you, but everyone here already knows what kind of person you were.
‘You were one truly amazing person. I’ll cherish every moment spent with you.
‘You never failed to make me laugh and you never failed to show me unconditional love.’
Ms Easey’s mother, Jennifer Collier (centre) was seen tearfully hugging mourners, and led the procession our of the chapel after the service
Benjamin Todd (left), the boyfriend of Danielle Easey, was consoled by the woman’s brother, Brendan (right), after speaking at the funeral service
Family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of Danielle with songs from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and a poetic tribute by her close friend Ebony (pictured)
Celebrant Rachel Michael said it was understandable many mourners feel angry after the abrupt way Ms Easey was taken from them.
‘Dell was taken from this world far too soon,’ she said. ‘She had so much more to give, so much more to live for, so much more to share, so much more to achieve.’
During the emotional service some mourners managed to laugh during a photo presentation of Ms Easey’s life, which showed her ‘cheeky’ side, and displayed her devotion to her two young children.
Friends wrote messages of love on her white coffin and were encouraged to sing along to songs by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Ms Easey’s favourite band.
Family members could be heard singing in unison to Under the Bridge, while some mourners outside quietly hummed along.
When Ms Michael asked for the volume to be turned up, a lone man was seen dancing out the front of the chapel.
Mourners were encouraged to sing along to songs by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Ms Easey’s favourite band, during the service. One man was seen dancing to Under the Bridge outside the chapel
Mourners were seen embracing each other after the emotional service
Ms Easey’s brother, Brendan (pictured) was seen embracing mourners outside the chapel, as his sister Tahnee (right) stood to the side
Mr Todd stood back as the balloons were released, and was quickly escorted into a a police van when the funeral ended
The body of murder victim Danielle ‘Dell’ Louise Easey is laid to rest at a funeral service held at Ryhope Memorial Park
A mourner was seen wiping away tears while holding the funeral program
‘Being here today brings up an incredibly uneasy mix of emotions: Many of you are so sad, but Dell was always so happy,’ Ms Michael said.
‘She was always trying to better herself, mainly for her two children.’
As the service concluded, mourners flooded to the front of the crematorium to release pink and white balloons.
Ms Easey made national headlines when she was famously born on a patch of grass in Newcastle during the region’s 1989 earthquake.
She was given the nickname ‘Quaker’ after her birth.
Mourners comforted each other after the emotional service for Danielle ‘Dell’ Easey who was found dead and wrapped in plastic on the banks of Cockle Creek at Lake Macquarie on August 31
When the hospital was evacuated, her mother Jennifer Collier was forced to give birth in a makeshift tent made of sheets.
Ms Easey (pictured as a baby being held by mother Jennifer) was given the nickname ‘Quaker’ after she was born on a patch of grass during Newcastle’s 1989 earthquake
Ms Easey was born 90 minutes after the 5.6 tremor struck Newcastle – reducing part of the city to rubble.
The 29-year-old had two children, Reef and Mahli, and a close friend, who asked not to be named, told Daily Mail Australia she was working hard to build a life for them.
In the months before she died, Ms Easey had been studying to be a teachers aide. Her children were in the care of their fathers, and she was working to get away from a ‘bad crowd’ she had been associating with.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance to start again.
Ms Easey’s body was found on August 31, wrapped in plastic and floating near the banks of the Cockle Creek in Lake Macquarie, in New South Wales.
Homicide squad Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor revealed Ms Easey had ‘died a gruesome death’.
‘That’s what I can say at the moment,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to get into the specifics of the injuries that she received at present.’
Police believe she may have been killed up to three weeks earlier, but no missing persons report had been filed as it had become normal for the woman to go days or weeks without reaching out to family.
A friend told Daily Mail Australia someone had been using Ms Easey’s phone and keycard just a few days before her body was found, and the mother-of-two’s loved ones were expecting an arrest to be made imminently.
Weeks on, no arrest has been made.
Two detectives were seen outside the chapel, and a spokeswoman for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers were ‘continuing to appeal for information’, especially from fishermen who might frequent the area.
A friend of Danielle Easey (right) earlier revealed someone had used the 29-year-old’s phone and key card just days ago – well after the time police believe she was killed
The friend said Ms Easey had begun taking ice and got involved with ‘the wrong people’ in the lead up to her death.
‘She was a loving mother daughter and friend,’ he said. ‘She didn’t deserve to be discarded like trash.’
Friend Jamielea Roelandts described the woman’s death as ‘senseless’, and wrote on social media that Ms Easey had asked for help.
‘A mother, a daughter, a friend, a colleague,’ the post read.
‘You wanted help and reached out for it! Sometimes taking that final step is the hardest!
‘I’ll forever be haunted by that. I’m sorry Danielle, I should’ve tried harder to push you to take that step!’
Ms Easey’s sister Tahnee told friends and family the woman was her ‘best mate’, and her heart was ‘broken into pieces’ (pictured: Danielle Easey)