Woman’s body found wrapped in plastic near major airport with husband missing

A woman’s body was found wrapped in plastic in a park beside Sydney Airport.

She has today been identified as Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li, 33, more than a week before her body was found in bushland in Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany around 7am on Monday, December 9.

Ms Li and her husband were reported missing by Ms Li’s mother after she failed to make contact with her daughter.

‘They’re obviously devastated’, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said.

‘She was a young woman that was living a normal life, and she’s lost her life in a suspicious way, and now we have concerns about her husband.

It is not yet clear whether her husband, Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen, also 33, is a victim or suspect, according to police who ‘hold grave concerns for his welfare’.

Mr Bao is between 5ft 5inch and 5ft 7inch tall, of slim build and with black hair and brown eyes.

Mr Doherty, of New South Wales Police, said: ‘Truth be known, we’re not sure whether Rex is alive or dead.

‘It’s a question mark on whether he’s a person of interest or a victim, we still don’t know.

‘There’s no confirmation that he’s alive, or that he’s been seen alive since late November.’

Either way, police believe Mr Chen is still in Australia.

Ms Li and Mr Chen lived in Greenacre, near the southwest suburb of Bankstown.

They were described as a ‘normal couple’ with no reported domestic violence or links to organised crime, according to Mr Doherty.

Police are now weighing up whether a third person was involved in the ‘mystery’ murder and Mr Chen’s disappearance.

‘We have to keep an open mind’, Mr Doherty said.

A silver Toyota Avensis, believed to have been used to move Ms Li’s body, was caught on CCTV stopping on the north side of Foreshore Road in the early hours of November 30, days before her body was found there.

Police suspect her body was dumped there between 4am and 5am that morning.

They have seized the car and are appealing for anyone with information about it to come forward.

Ms Li had moved to Australia from China 20 years ago. Mr Chen is originally from Taiwan. He is believed to still be in Australia.

‘We’re hoping that he is alive so we can actually assist with our inquiries’, Mr Doherty said.

‘This is a very sad, tragic death of someone who’s lost their life in not only an unusual way, but a suspicious and brutal way.’

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