Missing teacher’s rotting remains are ‘found in a rusted freezer buried in his own backyard’ – as police arrest a man, 24, over his suspected murder
- Queensland police found body parts in a chest freezer buried in a backyard
- The human remains seem to be those of missing 58-year-old David Thornton
- Mr Thornton was last seen on February 22 but family raised the alarm late March
- A 24-year-old man was taken into custody on suspicion of murder on Tuesday
A 24-year-old man was taken into custody in Byron Bay in northern New South Wales on Tuesday over the death of 58-year-old David Thornton (pictured)
A man will be extradited from NSW to Queensland to face court on suspicion of murder after body parts were found in a fridge buried in a missing Brisbane man’s backyard.
Bobby Andrew Weaver, 24, was arrested in Byron Bay and faced an extradition hearing in Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday.
The Wilsons Creek man was arrested at a Pacific Highway rest stop at Tyagarah, just north of Byron.
He is expected to face an Ipswich court on Wednesday afternoon charged with the murder of David Thornton, 58, who was last seen near his Goodna home on February 22.
Mr Thornton was last seen on February 22 in Goodna, west of Brisbane, but was only reported missing by family members on March 22.
The search for Mr Thornton began after he was reported missing by his family on March 12.
Police began digging in his yard over the weekend after a tip-off from neighbours.
On Monday they excavated a freezer, which contained human remains belonging to Mr Thornton.
Police divers searched a creek on Wednesday as the investigation continues at the Goodna property.
A tip-off from a neighbour led officers to search the backyard of Mr Thornton’s Goodna home over the weekend
Weaver was wearing a long-sleeved blue checked shirt and appeared calm when he appeared in court via video link.
The extradition order will be processed at Tweed Police Station before Weaver is released into police custody and taken to Ipswich.
Detective Inspector Briese said the men knew each other through family ties, who had been notified of the discovery and arrest.
‘They’re very upset.’ the detective said.
‘But I guess in the back of the mind, given everything that’s happened in the last 72 hours, … their worst realisations appear to have come to fruition,’ he said.
Detective Inspector Briese said the man they arrested had been helping them with their investigation before he travelled to Byron for a prearranged appointment.
Queensland police will begin extradition of the NSW man on Wednesday.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after police found body parts while digging up the backyard of a missing Brisbane man