Ex-boyfriend of missing American student, 46, is arrested after police dig up their front yard in search for her body
- Police searching for missing American Priscilla Brooten have arrested her ex, 42
- Investigators dug up the front garden of the home she shared with her boyfriend
- Ms Brooten, 46, was last seen in July but wasn't reported missing until December
Priscilla Brooten, 46, was last seen in the north Brisbane suburb of Bracken Ridge in July last year, but wasn't formally reported missing until December
The ex-boyfriend of an American student missing and feared dead has been arrested as police dig up their front garden while searching for her body.
Priscilla Brooten, 46, was last seen in the north Brisbane suburb of Bracken Ridge in July last year, but wasn't formally reported missing until December.
Police said the 44-year-old man, who lived with Ms Brooten at the time she went missing, is in custody to help with inquiries.
Ms Brooten and her partner were believed to have been in a de facto relationship for a year before she disappeared, police told the ABC.
Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Hogan has also revealed that the missing American woman was heavily involved in online gaming.
Police now believe the 46-year-old US national has been murdered and are digging up the front yard of a home in the Brisbane suburb, Bracken Ridge (pictured)
He issued an appeal to other gamers to contact police with any information they may have, believing that Ms Brooten may have revealed fears for her safety to the online gaming community.
'Police suspect a lot of people she associated with online and also in some private clubs may not know that police are investigating her disappearance,' he said.
Ms Brooten and her partner were believed to have been in a de facto relationship for a year before she disappeared
'Often these people may not have known that she was reported missing.'
'Any contact she had with them may help the investigation.'
Police believe Ms Brooten was murdered, and on Saturday they dug up the front yard of a home in Bracken Ridge looking for her remains.
The initial search was concentrated on a narrow strip of the yard alongside the driveway.
'We share the fear of Ms Brooten's family and friends and have reason to believe she may have met with foul play,' Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Hogan said.
Police are appealing for anyone who may has seen Ms Brooten's blue Volkswagen Golf to come forward.
Ms Brooten was driving the car for about a year before her disappearance and was found abandoned in Bunton St, Scarborough about 9pm on July 6, 2018.
Police are appealing for anyone who may has seen Ms Brooten's blue Volkswagen Golf (pictured) to come forward. The car was found abandoned north of Brisbane on July 6, 2018
'Regardless of how trivial you think the information might be, it may be crucial to our investigation,' he said.
Ms Brooten's daughter Caity Brooten, 23, said her mother decided to move to Australia six years ago 'because she did not want to get tied down' in the US.
'She was a very smart and nerdy person and loved to watch anime and loved to take samba class,' she said.
Ms Brooten, who studied literature, occasionally instructed Zumba classes at the HealthWorks gym in Deagon, and also attended a book club at Bracken Ridge.
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