They thought they found a body in a suitcase — and then came the surprising twist
Travelers who found a suitcase in a wooded area in Australia called the police, who opened a murder investigation. A forensic examination revealed that the "body" is actually an extremely realistic sex doll.
Police in southeastern Australia opened a murder investigation after travelers found a suitcase in a wooded area. However, a forensic examination revealed that what initially appeared to be human remains was actually an extremely realistic sex doll.
The suitcase was found on Sunday, around 12:50 PM, next to Woolgoolga Road, about 61 km south of the city of Goulburn in the state of New South Wales. Police were called to the scene and opened an investigation into a death under suspicious circumstances.
A special investigation team was established with the assistance of homicide unit investigators. Officers cordoned off the scene and avoided moving the findings as much as possible, so as not to damage potential evidence.
However, forensic tests completely changed the situation: experts determined that it was not a body, but a human-like sex doll. The doll was dressed and had hair and a nose piercing, and marks resembling bruises and scratches were visible on its body — details that likely caused the misidentification.
Inspector Linda Bradbury of the New South Wales Police said the doll was "very realistic and looked like human remains." According to her, the officers acted in accordance with the procedures used at scenes of serious crimes. The handling of the scene also took place under heavy rain that fell in the area, according to the Reuters news agency.
Following the findings of the examination, the investigation into the suspicious death was closed. However, the police are still trying to determine how the doll arrived at the location and how long the suitcase had been in the area. As of now, there is no suspicion of a crime.
Forensic biologist Paola Magni explained in a conversation with The Guardian that it is not always easy to distinguish at first glance between a realistic doll and human remains. According to her, the condition of the find, environmental conditions, and the fact that dolls of this type are becoming increasingly realistic can make initial identification difficult.
