Daughter's heartbreaking admission after dad's body found in bin
The daughter of a man whose body was discovered inside an industrial-sized bin has paid tribute to her father, as police make a fresh appeal to the public.
Luke Jon Telega, 45, was found by a garbage contractor behind shops on Percy St at Bellerive, in greater Hobart, about 9am on Monday.
Telega was last seen by family at 10pm on Saturday.
The ongoing investigation is exploring whether he met with foul play or misadventure during the significant gap between then and his discovery. An autopsy showed no visible signs of injury.
Police have now appealed for two potential who they think might have information to come forward, in a fresh appeal to the public.
The women were spotted on CCTV in the area on Sunday night.
One of the women was seen standing outside a shopfront on Percy St at 7.50pm. She may have spoken with someone on the street and was seen driving what is believed to be a light-coloured Toyota Prado.
The second woman was also seen on Percy St a short time later at 8.05pm. She was driving a red SUV.
The bin where Telega was found sits behind a Salvation Army outlet and is known to be frequented by people sleeping rough, Tasmania Police Detective Inspector David Gill said on Tuesday. It is unclear if Telega had been sleeping in the bin.
When his body was discovered, the garbage contractor told police he initially believed it was a mannequin. Luke Jon Telega's daughter paid tribute to her father (right) as an ongoing investigation into his death hopes to locate potential witnesses (left). Credit: Harmony Telega / Victoria Police/ Facebook Telega was last seen by family at 10pm on Saturday, and was discovered dead on Monday morning. Credit: Tasmania Police, Supplied The area behind a Salvation Army where Telega was found is frequented by rough sleepers, but it is unclear whether Telega had been sleeping inside the bin. Credit: Google Maps/AAP
Police are still urging anyone who was in the area, especially on Sunday, to contact Crime Stoppers.
Telega's daughter Harmony Telega said she and her father were not in contact recently but shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.
'Rest easy Dad. I know we weren't on speaking terms when you left this world. It was hard seeing you the way you were. You were the best father I could've ever asked for, my best friend,' Harmony said.
'You helped me when I needed it with no questions asked, you were always happy to spend time with me for no reason.
'I will always be forever grateful for you, I love you so, so much. I will forever pick you to be my father in every lifetime. Until we meet again, Dad.'
Now she and her family grapple to gather funds to lay Telega to rest.
'Harmony and her family would like to give Luke the send-off he deserves but as funds are tight this isn't an option,' family friend Lily Hurst wrote in a GoFundMe.
Hurst called it a 'tragic, stressful time' for the family.
— With AAP
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"The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said. "It's an unforgiving terrain." Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information. Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located. He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant. "However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said. Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart ..." she posted on Facebook. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy. "There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP. "We believe our community to be kind and accepting. "To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it." The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley. A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen. "We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn said. Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car. 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Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times. Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene. "The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said. "It's an unforgiving terrain." Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information. Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located. He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant. "However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said. Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media. 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