Police investigate suspicious death after badly decomposed body found in livestock trough

An investigation is under way after a decomposed body was found at a stockyard on the NSW Far North Coast. 

Two trail bike riders made the discovery on Crown land at Terragon, about 20 kilometres south-west of Murwillumbah, shortly after 11am on Monday.

Tweed Byron Police District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer said the body was found in a livestock trough.

It was located along an overgrown track, roughly 300 metres off Kyogle Road.

“Due to the location of the body, the remoteness of the area, the absence of the vehicle and any other mode of transport, we are treating this death as suspicious,” Zimmer said.

A crime scene was established and specialist forensic officers examined the area and the body on Tuesday.

Police believe the remains are those of a woman, but severe decomposition has made it impossible to identify her or determine how long the body had been there.

“A postmortem will be conducted in the coming days, and we anticipate that we may be able to confirm identity and also a cause of death,” Zimmer said.

The two riders had stopped when they noticed what they thought was a body and contacted emergency services.

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Police have canvassed neighbouring homes and taken statements from residents.

Investigators are also checking missing persons records in NSW and Queensland, although no link has been established at this stage.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Tweed Byron Police or Crime Stoppers.