Local reveals the frantic sequence of events that led to discovery of woman’s body floating in water

The local resident who found Devora Howard’s (pictured) beloved Doberman Harvey barking and peering into the surf reveals the frantic events leading up to the discovery of her body in the water 

The local resident who found Devora Howard’s beloved Doberman barking and peering into the surf has revealed the events leading to the discovery of her body.

The 56-year-old woman was found floating in the ocean nearby a boat ramp on NSW’s Central Coast by a group of fisherman just after 7am on Tuesday.

Terrigal-based personal trainer Jordan Green found her beloved dog, Harvey, ‘angrily barking’ nearby about an hour earlier.

When he arrived at 5.40am to have a training session in the ocean, Mr Green told the Daily Telegraph that things seemed off.

‘When I got there, I found the ladies’ dog on the beach but couldn’t see anyone else around,’ he said. 

‘I knew something was not quite right when the dog was on the shore and barking and looking out to the water. He was distressed. He had his lead on and there was a bumbag on the sand.’ 

The personal trainer and another woman on the sand attempted to look for the dog’s owner, with the woman continuing her search as Mr Green trained.

‘Afterwards we decided to take the dog home. The address was on its tag. That’s when I decided to call the police,’ Mr Green said.

The 56-year-old woman’s body was found floating in the ocean nearby a boat ramp on NSW’s Central Coast by a group of fisherman just after 7am on Tuesday 

Mrs Howard (left with mum Marjorie) was last seen talking on her mobile while sitting on her balcony about 10pm on Monday night

Police are yet to determine if her death was the result of foul play, and a post mortem is expected to determine the cause of marks found on her neck.  

Mrs Howard was last seen about 10pm on Monday night, talking on her phone on the balcony of her home in Wamberal.  

Police on Thursday were seen parked at the end of her street, and searching the Terrigal Lagoon for clues as to what could have caused the woman’s death. 

On Wednesday, detectives and uniformed officers were seen on the street, speaking to neighbours and beachgoers as they desperately searched for answers.

They obtained CCTV vision from nearby homes, and were seen examining the beachfront for evidence.  

Mrs Howard had recently separated from her husband Peter, and investigators said the woman had formed a close friendship with her neighbour Dylan Carter in recent weeks. 

The visibly upset man, who locals said is an ‘eligible bachelor’ was comforted outside his home by several friends on Thursday afternoon, as police continued to piece together the final moments of Mrs Howard’s life. 

The sister of Devora Howard (pictured) paid tribute to the 56-year-old, saying she’d ‘lost her backbone, hero and best friend’ 

Mr Carter denied he and Mrs Howard were in a new relationship.

‘We were friends,’ Mr Carter said.

Her estranged husband, who is understood to have moved out about a month ago, returned to the couple’s home on Wednesday to comfort her mother.

When Mr Howard arrived at the Pacific Street house he and Mrs Howard shared until recently, he was too upset to say much about his estranged wife’s death. 

‘We just want peace and quiet to grieve. Whatever the police say it is, that’s what it is,’ Mr Howard said.

There is no suggestion Mr Carter or Mr Howard had anything to do with Mrs Howard’s death.

As police continued their probe, officers revealed a grey woollen jumper Mrs Howard was seen wearing to the beach remains missing.  

Police told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday investigators were still awaiting the results of the post-mortem, and inquiries were continuing.   

Mrs Howard’s sister, Karen Wardle Bacic took to Facebook to say she was ‘not in a good place’ following her sister’s death. 

Mrs Howard’s estranged husband Peter Howard (left) was seen returning to the home on Wednesday to spend time with her family, while Dylan Carter (pictured), 46, who lived two houses away and was rumoured to be close to Mrs Howard, 56, was seen being comforted by neighbours nearby. There is no suggestion Mr Carter or Mr Howard had anything to do with Mrs Howard’s death

Under a smiling photograph of Mrs Howard, Ms Bacic said she was ‘just trying to put one foot in front of the other’.

‘I’m broken into a million pieces, I’ve lost my back bone, my hero, my best friend,’ she wrote. 

In comments to friends, Ms Wardle Bacic said her sister had a kind heart and a generous nature. 

‘She was gorgeous inside and out, and just wanted to help everyone,’ she wrote. 

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Laksa told reporters that officers were keeping an ‘open mind’ as to what may have happened. 

Chief Inspector Laksa said police were yet to determine if Mrs Howard’s death was suspicious and that they had held interviews with some men who knew her. 

Residents of Mrs Howard’s quiet street confirmed police had asked around about one man in particular, but hadn’t explained why.

Neighbour Jim told Daily Mail Australia Mrs Howard had lived with her mother in the luxury beachside home, and her husband had split from her ‘about a month ago’.

‘She was always nice. She was always doing something, working away – cleaning the house, he said. 

Jim said he believed Mrs Howard may have been taken by the tide, and could not imagine she would have taken her own life.

The discovery has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, with neighbours saying they saw Mrs Howard walking her Doberman every day 

The sprawling beach pad where Mrs Howard lived with her mother and doberman, Harvey 

Police canvassed the beach near where Mrs Howard’s body was found on Thursday morning

‘For her to take her dog down there – she loves her dog – if you’re going down to say this is going to be it… I just can’t see why she would take the dog down if she was going to do that,’ he said.

‘It’s terrible, that. I’ve missed her even this morning – it’s just someone you see, you’d look up and she’d be there.’

Another neighbour, Jules, said she had heard Mrs Howard’s beloved dog Harvey barking ‘deeper than usual’ nearby her bedroom window.

She said the dog sounded ‘angry’, and when she looked out the window later that morning, she saw police combing the beachside nearby, where Mrs Howard’s bumbag was found.

Police revealed Mrs Howard entered the water wearing white pants and a grey woollen jumper, but was found wearing only a bra and her pants.

She was found with marks on her neck, and her jumper is yet to be found. 

Shattered friends have told media they thought Mrs Howard had been living the ‘perfect life’. 

But things may not have been as they seemed. 

On June 26, Mrs Howard took to Facebook to make a cryptic post: ‘When you lose all trust in someone you have nothing else to lose.’ 

Police today announced a post-mortem will be conducted this week, and asked the public for help in their investigations. 

‘It’s a tragic, tragic situation for her family,’ Inspector Laksa said.

‘We believe the community might be able to help us piece together information to identify where (she) has been. 

‘Any small piece of information would be appreciated.’   

Footage has emerged showing Mrs Howard playing with her dog in the water during a sunny day out on the beach

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk