A woman's body has been discovered hidden in a Gold Coast unit shortly after police located a deceased man in the same residence.
The 53-year-old man's body was found at the apartment on Labrador St, Labrador, about 10.20am on Friday.
Officers who arrived on the scene later found the body of a 48-year-old woman in a furniture chest.
Gold Coast District Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said there are early indications the man may have been responsible for the woman's suspicious death.
"We are treating the deaths of these people as suspicious and there is some early indications of the male person being responsible for the death of the female person," he told reporters on Saturday.
Police believe the pair were in a relationship for about 10 years.
"There is some suggestion that the male person was also a carer for the female," Detective Inspector Ahearn said.
"One of the lines of investigation is into the medical condition of the female person, prior to her tragic death."
There were no domestic violence orders in place and the couple was unknown to police.
No third parties are being sought at this stage.
"It is a tragic event," Detective Inspector Ahearn said.
"We are pouring significant resources into an expansive investigation of it because we are intent on getting answers for the family as to why and how these two people have died."
The woman is yet to be formally identified.
Both bodies will undergo post-mortem examinations on Saturday to give an exact timeline for their deaths.
Detective Inspector Ahearn said the decomposition of the bodies indicated they had been dead since at least last weekend.
"We believe the female person is in a more advanced state than the male," he said.
A report is being prepared for the coroner as forensic specialists continue to comb through the unit.
Police are urging anyone who saw anything suspicious at the Sapphire apartments complex in Labrador to contact Crime Stoppers.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence or sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. The Men’s Referral Service provides advice for men on domestic violence and can be contacted on 1300 766 491. In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at Beyondblue.org.au. Embrace Multicultural Mental Health supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
