Australian police have ended a murder investigation after determining that a suspected body found inside a suitcase was actually an extremely lifelike doll.
Two men discovered the suitcase beside a road near Oallen, a small village about 230 kilometres southwest of Sydney, and alerted authorities.
Police initially launched a murder investigation on Monday, sparking widespread interest in the case. However, the investigation was called off hours later after forensic examinations established that the contents of the suitcase were not human remains.
Superintendent Linda Bradbury of the Hume Police District said the doll was initially mistaken for a human because of its remarkably realistic appearance.
“The contents were initially mistaken for a human because they are extremely realistic in appearance, resembling human remains,” Bradbury said.
Police said the doll was dressed in clothing and had hair and a nose piercing. It also had markings that appeared to resemble bruises and grazes.
Forensic specialists and investigators attended the scene on Sunday and followed standard procedures to preserve potential evidence.
Bradbury defended the police response, saying investigators had no regrets about initially treating the discovery as a possible crime scene.
She described the discovery as “quite a shocking” experience for the two men who found the suitcase, adding that they made the right decision by reporting it to police.
The men were reportedly affected by the discovery, and authorities said they would contact them to explain that the suspected remains were not human.
With the forensic examination completed and the contents confirmed to be a doll, police have concluded the investigation.
