Toyah Cordingley’s suspected killer is ‘living like a free man’ in India as no extradition request has been made and nobody is investigating, authorities say.
The 24-year-old pharmacy assistant was brutally raped and murdered in broad daylight as she walked a dog on isolated Wangetti Beach, Far North Queensland, on October 21 last year.
Her naked body was tragically found by her father the next morning with ‘visible and violent’ injuries inflicted all over.
Toyah Cordingley (left) was brutally raped and murdered last October as she walked a dog on an isolated Queensland beach in broad daylight
The dog was found tied to a nearby tree so tightly it could not sit down.
Married father-of-three Rajwinder Singh is believed to be the prime suspect wanted for questioning over the shocking crime.
The nurse quit his full-time job at Innisfail Hospital, abandoned his family and travelled to India the day after Toyah’s body was found.
Mr Singh has extended family living in his home town of Amritsan in Punjab state, near the Pakistani border about 450km north of India’s capital New Delhi, but they say nobody has come to investigate.
Rajwinder Singh travelled to India the day after Toyah’s body was found and is believed to be the prime suspect wanted for questioning
Pharmacy assistant Toyah Cordingley pictured with her father
Ms Cordingley (pictured) was walking a dog on Wangetti beach when she was attacked on 21 October 2018. A memorial was unveiled last month not far from where she was killed
The day after her murder Toyah’s dog was found tied to a tree
‘No one from Indian police, Australian authorities or any other officer from administration have come up here to investigate Rajwinder Singh,’ an unnamed close family member told the Courier Mail.
Mr Singh’s uncle told 7News that Singh had not been in contact with the family there.
Indian police have said they would be happy to search for Mr Singh – but nobody has officially asked them for help.
Inspector Harsandeep Singh of Punjab Police said they were here for justice and ready to investigate, but even if they saw Rajwinder, they could not arrest him without any order or request.
‘There is no case against Rajwinder Singh in our police station. He is as clean as you and me. For us right now he is a law-abiding citizen of this country,’ he told the Sunday Mail.
Many people laid sunflowers and wore yellow at a memorial last month for Toyah (pictured)
Ms Cordingley pictured with her boyfriend Marco Heidenreich
Wangetti Beach is about 40km north of Cairns, and is a quiet area. Locals revealed her body had been found in a reception black spot, frequented by ‘odd bods’ and vagrants
Charanjit Singh, an assistant sub inspector of the local police station where Rajwinder Singh’s family lives, confirmed this.
‘We should be officially made aware of the case, his possible location, then only we can investigate,’ he told the Sunday Mail.
Queensland Police would not say on Sunday whether or not they had put through a request for assistance, either directly or by requesting an extradition through the Federal Attorney General.
They also did not say whether they had contacted Interpol for help in finding Rajwinder Singh.
If anyone has information on what happened to Toyah Cordingley (pictured) police have asked them to call on 131 444. You can remain anonymous
Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia they had established Operation Quebec Clarify, a dedicated team of detectives and support personnel, to investigate Toyah’s murder.
‘Police remain committed to ensuring justice for Toyah Cordingley and her family,’ a Queensland Police spokesperson said via email.
‘Police continue to appeal for anyone with information regarding her murder, who may have until now, been unwilling to speak.’
Toyah Cordingley’s family and friends have vowed never to give up the hunt for justice.
More than 100 people gathered last month to unveil a memorial on the anniversary of her death, not far from the spot where she was killed.
Toyah Cordingley was only 24 years old when she was killed while walking a dog on a beach
Family friend Wayne ‘Prong’ Trimble and sculptor Cameron Donnachie built a permanent memorial for Ms Cordingley at the beach.
Ms Cordingley’s family chose Toyah’s version of a famous Gandhi quote for the memorial plaque: ‘Be the change you want the world to be’.
Many people laid yellow sunflowers at the memorial as tributes to the young woman and at least 250 daisies were laid on the beach.
Ms Cordingley’s friend Megan Amour told 9News the shrine was everything her best friend would have loved.
‘It all symbolises Toyah,’ she said.
‘Toyah’s probably the person that everyone wanted to be, she’s the whole package deal from one of the most amazing, helpful, encouraging, inspiring people. She’s one of a kind.’
The official ceremony, held on a Saturday two days before the actual anniversary, saw Smithfield State High School students singing Amazing Grace, followed by a minute’s silence.
Anyone with information regarding Toyah’s death can contact Policelink anonymously on 131 444.