Woman found dead near Sydney Airport believed missing on Gold Coast with husband before discovery

Family members of the woman whose decomposing body was found wrapped in plastic near Sydney Airport last week, as well as relatives of her husband, had been trying to find the couple after they went missing on the Gold Coast.

On Saturday, police confirmed the body was that of 33-year-old Zhuojun “Sally” Li, and they are now searching for her husband, 33-year-old Jai-Bao “Rex” Chen.

It has not yet been revealed whether Chen is considered a suspect or a victim.

7NEWS.com.au has uncovered Facebook posts shared by someone who appears to be a family member of the couple, possibly a cousin or sister, appealing to the public for help in locating the missing pair.

One post from December 12 reveals that the couple, both Sydney residents for at least four years, were travelling on the Gold Coast when Chen’s phone was lost.

The family member said a security officer had found Chen’s phone at Broadwater Parklands in Southport on or about December 8 and contacted either his cousin or sister via social media.

The relative then attempted to reach Li, but Li’s phone had already been turned off.

Another post by Li’s cousin on December 11, said the couple had been missing for over 10 days during their trip.

While the husband’s name, age, and background match the information confirmed by police, the woman is referred to as “Luna” in the posts instead of “Sally”, despite having the same age, birthplace, and photo.

The claims on social media raise significant questions about how the victim’s body ended up in Sydney and the whereabouts of her missing husband.

Queensland Police referred 7NEWS.com.au to NSW Police.

However, when asked about the posts, NSW Police told 7NEWS.com.au they had no further updates beyond what was shared during Saturday’s press conference, and the investigation is still ongoing.

What we know so far

Li’s body was discovered in dense scrub at Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany on the morning of December 9 by a passing jogger.

NSW Police said that the severe decomposition of the body indicated the woman had been dead for several days, which aligns with the timeline of her being reported missing by her mother.

They are appealing for public assistance in locating Chen, who, along with his wife, has not been seen since the end of November.

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said: “Whether he’s alive or dead, that’s the question”.

Investigators believe a third party may be involved, based on CCTV footage showing a car stopping near the location where Li’s body was found.

The silver Toyota Avensis, which does not belong to Li or Chen, was seen stopping on the northern side of Foreshore Rd between 4am and 5am on November 30.

Police suspect the vehicle was used to transport Li’s body to the scene.

Li was originally from Shenyang, China, and had been living in Australia for about 20 years, while Chen, from Taiwan, had been living and working in Australia for over a decade.