A SYDNEY-based overseas university student who went missing on a shopping trip into the city has been identified as the murder victim found dumped at the Snapper Point blowhole.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mengmei “Michelle” Leng, 25, disappeared on the afternoon of April 21, three days before her naked body was found face down with stab wounds to her neck at the notorious Lake Macquarie fishing spot.
The Chinese national was last seen shopping in Pitt Street, Sydney after catching a bus from the University of Technology.
Police said Ms Leng then caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm.
She then vanished.
Strike Force Elise, comprising the homicide squad and Tuggerah Lakes detectives, are now attempting to piece together Ms Leng's final movements.
They had spent four days attempting to identify the body before tests, including DNA, confirmed it belonged to the economics student.
It is understood Ms Leng lived at Campsie but had been at the campus grounds before she jumped on a bus to head into the city.
Police have released CCTV footage of her on Pitt Street about 3pm on April 21 and at St James railway station.
Her desperate family had turned to social media in an attempt to find their missing relative after discovering her missing on the evening of April 21.
They had reported she had been last seen wearing long-sleeved clothes and a pair of jeans and was carrying a red bag.
It is not believed any clothing was found on the Snapper Point following the discovery of Ms Leng’s body on Sunday morning.
Police had speculated the body had been in the water for less than 48 hours – Ms Leng was last seen about 3pm and her body was discovered 67 hours later.
She had suffered a violent assault before her body was dumped, including several stab wounds to her neck.
Police revealed they were attempting to identify the body and released a description, including that she was of Asian appearance, appeared to be aged between 20 and 35 and was about 170cm tall.
The release quickly made its way onto Chinese news and social media sites, where the connection was made between Ms Leng’s disappearance and the unidentified body.
Police were confident as early as Wednesday night that the body belonged to the 25-year-old, but had to wait on confirmation.
Homicide detectives met with the family at 8am on Friday where they told them the harrowing news.