UPDATE: 6PM
POLICE have stepped up patrols of South Tamworth as they throw every resource at the hunt for the killer who murdered a young mum.
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Teah Rose Luckwell’s young daughter was inside the Robert Street unit when a neighbour made the gruesome discovery of the 22-year-old’s body on Wednesday night.
Investigators are trying to piece together what happened inside the unit, and when Ms Luckwell was last seen alive.
On Thursday, police upped the manhunt for Ms Luckwell’s killer, bringing in detectives from New England, the Orana area as well as the homicide squad in Sydney to back local investigators in the investigation, code-named Strike Force Penola.
Police confirmed Ms Luckwell’s daughter was uninjured and taken to Tamworth hospital as a precautionary measure.
“The child was taken to check to make sure she is ok and she is now in the care of her grandmother,” Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly said on Thursday afternoon.
“We are putting every available resource that we have at this time to investigate the circumstances of the death of this young lady.”
Police won’t say how Ms Luckwell died or the nature of her injuries, confirming a post-mortem on Saturday will confirm the official cause of death.
There was some observations made by a witness that made the discovery and alerted emergency services.
- Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly
“There was some observations made by a witness that made the discovery and alerted emergency services,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.
“There are multiple lines of inquiry that have to be followed in this investigation, there are many aspects of the lady's life that we don't have information about.
“We hope that members of the community can assist us with piecing together her movements prior to the call for assistance [on Wednesday] night.”
The crime scene remains at the unit block, and forensic officers will continue to examine the unit, across the road from St Edward’s Infants School until at least Saturday.
Chief Inspector O’Reilly said it was “too early to speculate” on any motive or person of interest.
“We will endeavour to follow every line of inquiry we have to determine what actually happened,” he said, confirming police had visited nearby businesses, where Ms Luckwell was known to frequent.
Extensive canvasses are underway to identify witnesses as well as possible sources of closed circuit television.
- Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly
“Extensive canvasses are underway to identify witnesses as well as possible sources of closed circuit television.
“We will use every piece of information that we can to try and resolve this matter quickly.”
Chief Inspector O’Reilly said he was confident that his “dedicated team of investigators” and community help would see “the matter resolved quickly”.
There is already an increased police presence in this particular area, and we will ensure that that will continue to assist us not only with this investigation but to assure the community that they can feel safe.
- Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O'Reilly
”There is already an increased police presence in this particular area, and we will ensure that that will continue to assist us not only with this investigation but to assure the community that they can feel safe,” he said.
“We appeal for information from the community, if anyone has information that can assist investigators about the movement of people in the vicinity of the unit [on Wednesday night] or anytime [on Wednesday], we ask them to contact investigators at Tamworth Police Station.”
Anyone with information is being urged to contact Tamworth police on 6768 2999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
UPDATE: 5PM
Police have addressed the media in relation to Teah Luckwell’s murder overnight in Tamworth.
UPDATE: 11AM
A MURDER probe is underway in Tamworth after a young woman was killed on Wednesday night.
Police have confirmed the 22-year-old died inside the Robert Street unit, across the road from St Edward’s Infants Primary School.
Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly confirmed a young child was found inside the unit but was not physically injured.
Detectives have been interviewing people that live in that area.
- Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly
“Detectives have been interviewing people that live in that area,” he said on Thursday morning.
“Detectives have been canvassing the area as part of the investigation.”
The Leader was there when some of the residents were taken to Tamworth Police Station in cars with detectives.
Strike Force Penola has been launched by Oxley detectives to investigate the murder.
Police are remaining tight-lipped on the woman’s murder and won’t say how she died or if anyone has been arrested in connection to the death.
Investigators from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad in Sydney have also arrived at the crime scene to assist local police.
A crime scene guard remains in place, and is expected to continue for much of the day.
Forensic police have been seen carrying out bags of evidence as they comb the unit, and the front yard.
Crime scene examiners are still examining the scene and that will take some time.
- Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly
“Crime scene examiners are still examining the scene and that will take some time,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.
The road remains closed around the front entrance to the school.
EARLIER
Police believe the death of a woman at a South Tamworth unit is suspicious.
Shortly after 9.40pm, Wednesday, police and emergency services were called to a unit on Robert Street.
Officers found a 22-year-old woman deceased in the home.
Police are treating the death as suspicious and a crime scene was established in the area.
Forensics officers and detectives remained at the scene overnight.
Strike Force Penola, comprising investigators from the State Crime Command Homicide Squad and Oxley Police District has been formed to investigate the incident.
Robert Street, between Diane and David Streets is now blocked off to traffic with motorists urged to avoid the area.
The Leader understands an alternative route has been arranged for children on buses at St Edward’s Infant’s School.
Parents and children entering the school have been asked to enter via the Thompson Crescent side of the school until the police operation has concluded.
Police are continuing to canvass the local area on Thursday morning and have asked for anyone who witnessed anything in the area last night to come forward.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000