Body of man, 33, found 8 days after his wife, 33, found dead & wrapped in plastic in Sydney

A Sydney couple in their 30s, who were reported missing in December 2024, are believed to be the victims of a targeted double murder motivated by "financial debts", News South Wales (NSW) police said.

The decomposing body of Li Zhuojun "Sally", 33, was found on Dec. 9 wrapped in plastic and dumped at St Joseph Banks Park in Botany, near Sydney Airport.

Eight days later, a body believed to be Li's husband, Chen Jai-Bao "Rex", 33, who was reported missing alongside her, was found about 10m away from the site of Li's body, The Guardian reported.

Likely a targeted double murder: local police

Danny Doherty, NSW homicide squad commander, said in a press conference on Dec. 17 that there was a strong likelihood the second body was Chen's, Australia media reported.

The body was found submerged in a creek and covered with thick bush foliage, and had been there for some time, he said.

Doherty said that due to the "nature of decomposition", police had yet to formally identify the body.

They have contacted Chen's next-of-kin in Taiwan.

“At this stage, we are treating it as more-than-likely a targeted double murder,” he said.

Doherty said police believe the couple was murdered in Greenacre in west Sydney, where they rented a property, before their bodies were driven over and dumped in Botany on Nov. 30.

A silver Toyota car believed to have been used to dump the bodies is being forensically investigated.

Police suspect the alleged murders were motivated by financial debts.

Chen was likely the target of the murder, and one line of inquiry was that he owed someone money, Doherty told 9News.

Chen’s phone was retrieved in Queensland, and likely had been used by a third party, Doherty said.

Doherty said at least two people were likely involved in the suspected double murder, and both have likely travelled overseas.

NSW police are working with Chinese mainland and Taiwan authorities to track down the suspects.

Background

Previously, police had expressed "grave concerns" for the welfare of Chen, who was reported missing alongside Li in November.

NSW police had also put out a public appeal on Dec. 14 to locate Chen.

Chen had "minor issues" in the past involving possessing stolen goods and possessing prohibited drugs, shared police.

Neither had reported a history of family violence.

Top image from NSW police