Body of missing Mackay mother discovered in dunes near harbour

The remains of 31-year-old Payge Leembruggen were discovered by a local dog walker in scrub vegetation along the dunes adjacent to the Mackay Harbour North Wall early Tuesday. Investigators note that she was last observed four days earlier near a hair salon on Celeber Drive in Mackay’s northern suburbs. Leembruggen, who cared for a five-year-old son and resided with extended family in Mount Jukes, frequently traveled to Mackay city but had no partner at the time of her disappearance.

Police have labeled the case as an unexplained, suspicious death and have scheduled an autopsy to determine cause. Searches of the surrounding dunes and beach have not yielded clothing or belongings that could be tied to her death, and officials have not confirmed whether the body was moved after she died. When she was seen, she wore a white top, white shoes, a red hair accessory, distinctive red yoga-style pants, and carried a small backpack-style handbag.