Man Charged with ‘Reprehensible’ Murder of 49-Year-Old Mother of 2 Found Dead in River 7 Months Ago

A man has been charged with murder after a mother of two was found dead in the Brisbane River in Queensland, Australia, in February.

On Monday, Sept. 22, Jesse Beale, believed to be Crystal Beale’s former husband, was charged with her murder, according to 7 News and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Authorities previously reported that Crystal, 49, met with a former partner after having dinner with her two children on Feb. 21, per the Brisbane Times. Her body was found in the Brisbane River the following morning.

In a Sept. 22 press release, the Queensland Police Service confirmed that a 49-year-old man had been charged with Crystal’s alleged murder.

“Detectives have conducted relentless investigations, reviewing over a thousand hours of CCTV and making multiple appeals for information to find justice for Crystal,” the release read.

“Police will allege the 49-year-old West End man murdered Crystal and moved her body into the Brisbane River, where it was later discovered.”

Officials said a search warrant was carried out at an Equestrian Drive address in Maudsland, a rural-residential suburb in the northern hinterland of the City of Gold Coast, at 5:11 a.m. on Sept. 22.

“A 49-year-old male was arrested at the location and has since been charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence offence) and misconduct with a corpse,” the statement continued.

“It is reprehensible what happened to Crystal. Over the past seven months, detectives have been tirelessly investigating every possible lead to find answers for her family,” Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said.

In April, police reported that Crystal’s body was found in the river by a member of the public at 5:40 a.m. on Feb. 22.

“Operation Xray Saba was established to piece together not only what happened that night, but Crystal’s life leading up to her alleged murder,” the release noted.

Police said she left a family dinner at a Sunnybank restaurant on Feb. 21 at 8:30 p.m. and traveled with a 49-year-old West End man, known to her, in a car to West End. She was last seen leaving the car at 9:30 p.m. on Ryan Street, West End.

“We were not going to give up until we could provide these answers and get justice for Crystal,” the police update said.

A police spokesperson said in a Sept. 22 press conference that authorities believed the pair had a “history of domestic violence.”

“There was no current domestic violence order in place at the time, but police will allege that there was a history of domestic violence, which is why that’s on the charge,” District Detective Inspector Francis said.

Speaking about Crystal’s children, he added, “They’ve lost their mother through horrible circumstances, and no matter what police or court action occurs, they cannot get her back.”

The man was scheduled to appear at Brisbane Magistrates on Sept. 22, but he was not present when his case was mentioned, according to ABC. Jesse’s lawyer, Lewis Huntee, requested that the case be adjourned to October.