Queenslanders are mourning the death of a young woman who was found dead on an isolated beach north of Cairns, a day after she left to walk her dog.

October 23, 2018

An outpouring of grief and outrage has followed the discovery of a young woman’s body on a deserted north Queensland beach as detectives continue to hunt for the person responsible for her death.

Toyah Cordingley’s body was found in dunes at Wangetti Beach, near Cairns, on Monday.

Police are treating her death as suspicious and potentially a sexually-related murder.

The 24-year-old animal lover was reported missing by her family after she failed to return from an afternoon walk with her dog on Sunday.

Her death has triggered an outpouring of sorrow and shock from community members.

“I didn’t know Toyah but just by the way I see she loved animals, she was clearly a beautiful person. May she rest peacefully and be forever surrounded by angels,” Judy Wilson posted on Facebook.

“I hope the police and community in Cairns find the person who did this atrocity and bring them to swift justice,” Sharon Cousins wrote.

She has been remembered as a beautiful soul who adored animals.

The young pharmacy worker’s disappearance triggered a search at the isolated beach, south of a small community of the same name.

Her body and dog were discovered on Monday morning by SES volunteers 800 metres north of her car, which was parked in a camping ground car park.

Police are continuing their appeal to the public for any information that may help the investigation.

On Monday, the detective leading the investigation, Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher, said they had no leads or suspects but hoped the scientific examination of the body would be completed by Tuesday afternoon.

Ms Cordingley’s blonde-hair would have been easily noticeable on what was traditionally a quiet stretch of sand, he said.

“It may well be the case this young woman has run into a stranger or potentially a person known to her and circumstances have unfolded that have led to her death,” he told reporters.

“So it’s critical that anyone who was there come forward and let us know because I think that, at the end of the day, will provide us with the leads we potentially need to solve this matter.”