Police in the rural town of Oallen, 230 km southwest of Sydney, were called to investigate a suitcase that had been found on the side of the road. The initial assumption was that the contents represented a human body.
The discovery prompted a rapid response. However, forensic testing later proved that what was inside the suitcase was a lifelike doll, complete with clothing, hair, a nose piercing and markings that resembled bruises and grazes.
Senior Superintendent Linda Bradbury of the Hume Police District confirmed that the doll’s realism had caused the unexpected confusion. “The doll was mistaken for a human originally, so it is very realistic in terms of looking like human remains,” she said.
Bradbury stressed that all proper investigative procedures were followed on the scene and that the integrity of the investigation was maintained, adding she had no regrets about the handling of the case.
The two men who found the suitcase were initially shocked, but were praised for reporting the discovery. Bradbury said they made the right decision in alerting police.
The police have now closed the investigation, noting that it was a shocking but ultimately harmless event for the local community.
