The body of a woman that was found wrapped in plastic in a creek near Newcastle has been identified by police as 29-year-old Danielle Easey.
NSW Police were called to Cockle Creek in Killingworth at about 10.30am on Saturday after members of the public reported seeing the body, wrapped in plastic, floating in the river.
Ms Easey lived in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Booragul with her family, NSW Police said, but she had recently been staying at multiple locations in the area.
The 29-year-old had recently been staying at multiple locations in the area, according to police. Source: Supplied
Detectives are now appealing to the public for information about Ms Easey's last movements and have established Strike Force Furzer to investigate her death.
"The forensic examination has determined that she was murdered as a result of significant injuries she received ... Danielle died a gruesome death." Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said.
“We know that she was staying at different locations over the last three weeks and we are keen to establish where those locations were and speak to who she stayed with during that time.”
Police said initial investigations revealed Ms Easey had been associating with people involved in drug-related activities over the last few weeks.
An autopsy on Danielle Easey's body found she suffered a 'gruesome death'. Source: NSW Police
“Detectives have been liaising with her family, who last had contact with Danielle several weeks ago.”
It is not known when Danielle’s body was dumped in the creek.
Police have also urged motorists with dashcam vision taken of Wakefield Rd over the past three weeks to make contact.
A measure of violence against women
Ms Easey's death marks the 44th woman in Australia lost to violence this year, according to the Red Heart Campaign.
"Danielle did not deserve to be murdered. She did not deserve to be wrapped in plastic and discarded like rubbish," campaign founder Sherele Moody said on Facebook.
"Danielle deserved to love a long and happy life but someone decided otherwise."
The post described Ms Easey as a mother-of-two who was nicknamed 'Quaker', in reference to her birth 90 minutes after the 1989 Newcastle earthquake.
Friends, family and members of the community also took to social media to pay tributes to the 29-year-old and express their condolences for her loved ones.
"RIP gorgeous girl! So sad your life was taken from you..fly high sweetheart," one person wrote.
"RIP beautiful mumma. My heart bleeds for your two children," another added.
"Putting her flowers up this morning, she don’t (sic) deserve this," one said.
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