A ‘body’ found in a suitcase was actually a lifelike doll. How did NSW police get it so wrong?

In a bizarre turn of events, a "body" found in a suitcase near Oallen, a town near Goulburn in New South Wales, was later revealed to be a lifelike sex doll. The suitcase was discovered by two members of the public on Sunday, who alerted police upon finding it on the roadside. The police statement initially suggested the body was believed to be female, and the bag containing it was sent to the forensic medicine laboratory.

Forensic examinations conducted on Monday morning confirmed the "body" was actually a highly detailed doll, complete with realistic features such as hair, a nose piercing, and markings that resembled bruises and grazes. Former NSW police officer Vincent Hurley noted the situation was "amusing in hindsight," but emphasized that the police had followed correct procedures.

He explained that officers may not have fully unzipped the bag to avoid contaminating evidence, such as fibers or blood, which could have been preserved inside the doll.

Crimes involving sex dolls are indeed rare, but Australian law makes possessing a child-like doll an offense. Police have previously charged individuals for intercepting air cargo containing such items. However, the doll discovered on Sunday is not believed to be childlike, and the investigation concluded on that basis. Superintendent Linda Bradbury, during her press conference on Monday, stated that police had "no regrets" about their procedures, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining integrity in such serious investigations.

The public who discovered the suitcase were commended for making the right decision in reporting their suspicions promptly.