A man has been charged with murder eight months after a woman died in mysterious circumstances on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
Megan Tangye, 31, was found with multiple unexplained injuries at a waterfront unit on Gore Street in Port Macquarie at 11.40am on December 27. She was rushed to hospital and died later that day.
Arrest on the Hastings River
Detectives said a 47-year-old man, understood to be Ms Tangye's former partner, was arrested on a boat moored in the Hastings River on Monday. Police boarded the man's houseboat and led him out in handcuffs before taking him to Port Macquarie Police Station, where he was charged with murder (DV) and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).
A dog aboard the vessel was also seized by Port Macquarie Hastings Council rangers.
Final autopsy findings
Detective Inspector Mark Rogers said police had only just received the final findings from an autopsy, which led to the man's arrest.
"Whilst there were some preliminary findings for the post-mortem, we only very recently received the actual final findings and that information has been reviewed and we've acted on that," Det. Insp Rogers said.
"The cause of death in the findings was as a result of blunt-force trauma which is believed to be as a result of an assault."
Det. Insp Rogers said the arrest followed "extensive investigation" and information from Ms Tangye's family and the wider community. The man is due to front bail court on Tuesday.
Family's tribute
The arrest comes months after Ms Tangye's family vowed they would see her suspected killer brought to justice. Her sister-in-law, Erin Russell, told the ABC at the time: "This has hit very close to home; we're not coping so well... But we're not going to let this defeat us."
"Megan was always so kind and caring. She would always be the first person to check in on others."
