Jason Cooper remanded in custody over death of Shae Francis

Pictured: The former boyfriend, 44, accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and interfering with her corpse after she visited a relative in hospital

  • Jason Cooper remanded in custody following disappearance of Shae Francis
  • Ms Francis last seen leaving Hervey Bay Hospital in Queensland last October 
  • Her disappearance was reported in March and an investigation launched 
  • Police arrested Cooper in Bendigo in Victoria and extradited him to Queensland 

The former boyfriend of a woman who was last seen leaving a Queensland hospital eight months ago has been remanded in custody.

Jason Cooper, 44, fronted Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with manslaughter after his ex-girlfriend, Shae Francis, went missing in October last year.

Ms Francis was last seen visiting a family member at Hervey Bay Hospital, on the Queensland south coast, but her disappearance was not reported to police until March, 9 News reported.

Local police teamed up with the Homicide Investigation Unit to track down the missing woman and police ramped up the investigation in May, making a a public appeal to find Ms Francis. 

Jason Cooper, 44, fronted Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday after Shae Francis disappeared in October last year

Police arrested Cooper in Bendigo, central Victoria, last Friday and later extradited him to Queensland.

He has been charged with manslaughter, interfering with a corpse and stealing.

Police will allege Ms Francis was killed in a Hervey Bay apartment complex.

Cooper allegedly used her key card to withdraw money from ATMs and lied to Ms Francis’ loved ones about her location. 

Ms Francis is reported to have been in and out of rehab as she wrestled with drug and alcohol addiction.

Cooper will front court again in July.

Authorities have yet to locate the body of the missing woman. 

Ms Francis was last seen visiting a family member at Hervey Bay Hospital, on the Queensland south coast, but her disappearance was not reported to police until March

Ms Francis was last seen visiting a family member at Hervey Bay Hospital, on the Queensland south coast, but her disappearance was not reported to police until March

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk