Brisbane sewage tank body believed to be man missing for two weeks
Detectives believe the body found in a sewage tank in Brisbane’s east on Wednesday is local man Jason Guise, who disappeared more than two weeks ago.
Police suspect the body was in the tank at the Wynnum pump plant for days before it was found by council maintenance workers about 12.30pm at the Granada Street facility.
Detective Inspector Owen Elloy said officers had tentatively identified the body as that of 45-year-old Mr Guise through tattoos and they told the likely victim’s family of their suspicions on Wednesday night.
The facility, which Inspector Elloy said was not very secure, remained a crime scene on Thursday.
Four trucks were needed to empty the four-by-six-metre tank and retrieve the body on Wednesday.
“Non-conclusive evidence date suggests that the male person whose body was extracted from the sewerage holding plant yesterday afternoon ... is that of Mr Guise,” Inspector Elloy said.
Investigators have appealed for witnesses and dashcam vision from Wynnum on April 21, when Mr Guise was last seen, particularly around Charlotte Street, where the victim bought groceries that day.
“I dare say there is somewhere out there who has some footage that could be useful to us," Inspector Elloy said.
“On the information we have, Mr Guise went to The Benevolent Society on Charlotte Street and picked up some groceries on the night of the 21st [of April] and took them back to his Wynnum address.
“We have a host of forensic officers working with the contents of the tank that we found Mr Guise in.
“A number of his associates have been spoken to, they are providing a great deal of assistance to investigating officers."
Inspector Elloy said it was "an understatement" to say it was a grim crime scene on Wednesday and the maintenance crew, who check the tank every 10-14 days, were "certainly shocked" by the discovery.
The investigation into the suspicious death was “progressing well”, according to Inspector Elloy, with 20 detectives and more than a dozen uniformed officers looking into the suspicious death.
An autopsy was being conducted on Thursday.
Mr Guise was last seen at his Bride Street home in Wynnum and was reported missing by his sister after he had not contacted family or friends.
The victim was known to police on a "limited basis", Inspector Elloy said.