Woman's body found dumped in plastic wrapping by the side of a road in Sydney

Detectives in Australia have made a disturbing discovery in bushland near the airport. The body of a missing woman was found dumped by the roadside, and police say it is an unusual case

Police in Australia have launched a manhunt after the gruesome discovery of a woman's body wrapped in plastic. Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li was found dumped in bushland near Sydney Airport.

The 33-year-old had been reported missing by her mum earlier this month. Her body was so badly decomposed that police were unable to identify her by fingerprints.

Now a search has been launched to find her husband. But detectives are puzzled by the case and say they are not even sure if he is still alive.

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the circumstances of Ms Li’s death were “unusual” but confirmed Ms Li and her husband Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen had no history of domestic violence.

“Truth be known, we’re not sure whether Rex is alive or dead," said the detective.

The disturbing find was made along Foreshore Rd at Botany on the morning of December 9, reports local news. Ms Li’s family were only notified of the identification on Friday night.

CCTV footage of a suspicious silver Toyota Avensis in the area has been released. Police believe that vehicle was used to convey the body of Sally and to conceal her in the bushes in the early hours of November 30. It has now been seized and examined.

Police had to wait for a DNA match before confirming Sally's identity. They have since been speaking with her husband's family in in Taiwan and have "grave concerns" for his safety.

“Truth be known, we’re not sure whether Rex is alive or dead," said the detective. They believe he is still in Australia.

“It’s a question mark for whether - while we want to talk to Rex, is whether he’s a person of interest or whether he’s a victim.”

“(There appears) to be no - for Sally anyway - any links to any criminality or any organised crime or anything like that." He said there was no indication Rex was mixed up in organised crime.

“So it’s a bit of a mystery, that part of it … why she would be killed,” said Supt Doherty.