Four ‘persons of interest’ in the carjacking death of a 70-year-old retired religion teacher have been pictured by police in a desperate attempt to track down those responsible for her murder.
Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in southwest Brisbane, about 6.10pm on Saturday.
Her six-year-old granddaughter witnessed the horror attack and screamed for help as the knifeman fled in her grandmother’s blue 2009 Hyundai Getz.
Ms White’s stolen car was later found in Springfield Lakes and seized for forensic examination.
Detectives from Ipswich and the Homicide Investigation Unit on Sunday released CCTV footage of four people they believe could assist with their investigation.
The group are described as possibly a mix of adult and juvenile African males in appearance.
‘Investigators believe the four people depicted in the vision, captured from a Bruny Street, Springfield Lakes address yesterday evening, may be able to assist them with their enquiries,’ Queensland Police said.
‘The vision also depicts a vehicle of interest previously mentioned in an earlier media release, a blue 2009 Hyundai Getz with Queensland registration 432 TYO.’
Investigators appealed to anyone who saw the group in the Redbank Plains and Springfield Lakes areas between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday to contact police.
People with relevant CCTV and dashcam footage were also asked to come forward.
Ms White’s daughter, Danice White, revealed the grandmother was doing a grocery shop at the centre ahead of plans for bible study later Saturday night.
‘We are all pretty numb and shaken up and we’ve got high blood pressure at the moment,’ Danice told Courier Mail of her family.
‘I’m struggling to control my thoughts right now.’
Danice recalled her father had told Ms White to go to a different shopping centre.
‘Dad says why don’t you to go to Redbank plaza, if only she listened that day, it would have not been her,’ she said.
The 70-year-old retiree has been remembered as kind-hearted with a devotion to helping others, particularly the homeless.
She was also about to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, who relied on her help to navigate the world aftering falling blind.
Local doctor Ademola Afolabi was the first person to arrive at the confronting scene of the stabbing.
He’d heard Ms White’s granddaughter shouting ‘my grandma is dead’ and followed her down to the carpark.
‘I saw a lady in a pool of blood, she was unresponsive, so I called triple-0,’ he said.
‘Her pants were soaked in blood, probably bleeding from the chest area.’
Mr Afolabi said it was ‘too late’ to help Ms White by the time paramedics arrived, adding her attacker ‘didn’t give her chance’.
Vyleen White (pictured) was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday
Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen on Sunday afternoon called for public assistance in identifying the four people who ‘dumped the victim’s vehicle in the street at Springfield Lakes, exited that vehicle and walked away’.
‘I can say, there’s believed to be one person involved in the attack on this elderly lady, operating alone,’ he said.
‘However, we may identify further offenders that are involved who are peripherally linked to this offender who has committed the homicide.’
More to come.
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