Human Remains Found in Desperate Search for Missing Hampton Man Paul Woods as Second Man is Charged with Murder
- Tragic discovery made in the search for 48-year-old Paul Woods, who vanished on October 5
- Shaun James Smoothy, 45, charged with murder and misconduct with a corpse after being arrested on the Gold Coast
- Police believe the two men knew each other, but the exact nature of their relationship remains a mystery
In a devastating development, human remains have been found in the search for missing Queensland man Paul Woods, who disappeared earlier this month. The 48-year-old Hampton man’s out-of-character disappearance was first reported on October 14, sparking a massive search effort by police.
The remains were discovered during a search of a property on Cressbrook Creek in the Toowoomba region, police revealed on Wednesday. Woods was last seen riding his motorbike between Cressbrook Creek and Hampton on October 5, but his unregistered blue and white Yamaha 450 motorbike has not yet been found.
Shaun James Smoothy, 45, was arrested in Southport on the Gold Coast on October 20 and has been charged with murder and misconduct with a corpse by interfering. Smoothy appeared before Southport Magistrates Court on October 21, where the case was adjourned until November 18.
Court documents detail the alleged dismembering of a dead human body, sending shockwaves through the small community. Locals told 7NEWS that Woods lived with a younger couple in their 20s and largely kept to himself.
Police continue to appeal for information about Woods or the movement of his motorbike between October 5 and 6 in the Hampton, Crows Nest, and Cressbrook Creek areas. The discovery of human remains has brought a sense of closure to the community, but many questions still remain unanswered.
In a heartfelt plea, detectives urged anyone with information to come forward, saying: “We need your help to piece together the events surrounding Paul’s disappearance.”
As the investigation continues, the community is left to grapple with the shocking news, and the family of Paul Woods is struggling to come to terms with the loss of their loved one.