{"id":62224,"date":"2026-09-16T06:54:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T10:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/mom-31-found-dead-in-sand-dunes-by-dog-walker-4-days-after-she-was-last-seen-at-a-hair-salon\/16\/09\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T06:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T10:54:51","slug":"mom-31-found-dead-in-sand-dunes-by-dog-walker-4-days-after-she-was-last-seen-at-a-hair-salon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/mom-31-found-dead-in-sand-dunes-by-dog-walker-4-days-after-she-was-last-seen-at-a-hair-salon\/16\/09\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Mom, 31, Found Dead in Sand Dunes by Dog Walker 4 Days After She Was Last Seen at a Hair Salon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\" data-body-type=\"bodyblocks\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Payge Leembruggen, 31, was found dead in sand dunes near Mackay Harbour North Wall, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, four days after she was last seen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leembruggen, who had a 5-year-old son, lived with extended family and was last seen at a hair salon around 3.9 miles west of where her body was found on Friday, Sept. 11<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Police are investigating her death and seeking information from the public about her movements<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A mother has been found dead in sand dunes, four days after she was last seen, prompting Australian police to launch an investigation into her death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Tuesday, Sept. 15, just after 8 a.m. local time, emergency services were called to a location near Mackay Harbour North Wall in Mackay, eastern Queensland, after a member of the public found a deceased woman, according to a Queensland Police <a data-ylk=\"slk:press release;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/mypolice.qld.gov.au\/news\/2026\/09\/16\/sudden-death-investigation-mackay-2\/\" class=\"null\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Authorities named her as 31-year-old Payge Leembruggen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leembruggen was last seen at a hair salon on Celeber Drive in Andergrove at around 8:55 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 \u2014 around 3.9 miles west of where her body was found.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p><em>Payge Leembruggen<\/em><br \/><em>Credit: Queensland Police<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Police described her as Caucasian, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with brown hair. Leembruggen was last seen wearing a white top, bright red trousers, a red bow in her hair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances and cause of her death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leembruggen had not been reported missing to authorities before her body was found, Mackay Whitsunday District<strong> <\/strong>Detective Inspector Emma Novosel noted in a media conference on Wednesday, Sept. 16, which was reviewed by PEOPLE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Novosel said Leembruggen had a 5-year-old son and lived with extended family in Mount Jukes \u2014 around 25 miles northwest of where she was found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The young boy is now being looked after by other members of his family. Leembruggen did not have a partner who lived with her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We always treat an unexplained death as suspicious until proven otherwise,&#8221; Novosel said at the conference.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Lamberts Beach in Mackay, near Mackay HarbourCredit: Alamy\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/f12cd59198c1c184237980ac98286f03a86e0c2e2fc040fd16770d8d2297ecdd\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fpeople_218%2Fbcbacf2a0e1f370f04d31268f127f9c2.jpg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p><em>Lamberts Beach in Mackay, near Mackay Harbour<\/em><br \/><em>Credit: Alamy<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The detective inspector said Leembruggen&#8217;s family were all &#8220;really upset at the loss of their loved family member.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Our thoughts are really with [her] family,&#8221; she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Novosel added that an autopsy had been scheduled and that police could not comment on a cause of death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <a data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Leembruggen&#8217;s body was located in sand dunes around 0.6 miles north of the North Wall car park by a man who was walking with his dogs, Novosel said in the conference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The area where Payge&#8217;s body was located, I understand, is quite dense and difficult to navigate and there&#8217;s various paths through that area, so the gentleman that located her had been using that path, hadn&#8217;t been there for some time prior,&#8221; Novosel said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She added that Queensland Police and the State Emergency Service (SES) were searching the area where Leembruggen was found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Novosel said it was not unusual for Leembruggen to travel from her address to Mackay city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen Leembruggen between Sept. 11 and Sept. 15, or who may have information that could help their investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/mom-31-found-dead-in-beach-sand-dunes-12123814\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/world\/articles\/mom-31-found-dead-sand-102953802.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Payge Leembruggen, 31, was found dead in sand dunes near Mackay Harbour North Wall, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, on Tuesday,<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/mom-31-found-dead-in-sand-dunes-by-dog-walker-4-days-after-she-was-last-seen-at-a-hair-salon\/16\/09\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/136a263a2ae19cea01b770e2e579cccd8b5ef2586287945ce0374cb911bc451e\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_jpg\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fpeople_218%2Fa0c61e2aa34954ac66bafa9bc3b215bd.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}