NSW Police launch murder probe after Brazilian woman's body found in Lane Cove River
Updated
Sydney police are investigating the "suspicious" death of a Brazilian businesswoman, whose body was found by kayakers in the Lane Cove River on Sunday.
Key points:
- Cecilia Haddad was a former mining executive turned business consultant
- The Brazilian national was last seen on Friday at a BBQ, but spoke to friends on Saturday morning
- Police are asking for any CCTV or dashcam footage of Ms Haddad or her car
Homicide detectives said they were treating the circumstances surrounding the death of 38-year-old Cecilia Haddad — a former mining executive — as a possible murder.
The Brazilian national's body was found in the water in Woolwich, near Angelo Street, on April 29 about 10:15am.
Police said Ms Haddad, who worked as a supply chain manager for mining company BHP Billiton in Western Australia before moving to NSW in 2016.
While in Sydney, she worked as a logistics manager for a freight company, had an active social life and a large circle of friends, police said.
Ms Haddad, who lived in Ryde, was last seen at a barbeque on Friday night last week and then spoke to friends on Saturday morning, police said.
Her friends raised concerns about her welfare when she failed to appear at a number of appointments on Saturday.
'Completely out of character'
The State Crime Command's Homicide Squad and Ryde Police Area Command have formed Strike Force Bronwyn to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
"By all accounts, Cecilia enjoyed an active social life and had made a large circle of friends during her time in Sydney," Detective Acting Inspector Richie Sim.
"Police spoke to a number of friends and associates in those initial stages, who described it as completely out of character.
"We've been told her vehicle was seen outside her home on Saturday afternoon, so we are very keen to speak with anyone who may have seen her or her vehicle after that time."
Ms Haddad owned a red 2013 model Fiat 500 sedan, with a black roof. The registration is DJV50H.
"We are specifically seeking CCTV or dash-cam footage of Cecilia or her vehicle, possibly in the Hunters Hill, Ryde, Top Ryde, West Ryde, and Woolwich areas over the weekend," Inspector Sim said.
"While we are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, which is expected to take place today, we are treating her death as suspicious."
On her LinkedIn account, Ms Haddad listed her most recent role as the managing director of CHC Consulting firm based in Sydney.
She was also the head of operational planning at freight company Pacific Planning.
Her credentials include a Master degrees from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and a certificate from the University of Tasmania.
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, sydney-2000, nsw, lane-cove-2066, ryde-2112
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