Police wish to speak to the partner of a woman whose body was found in a bathroom at a unit in Sydney’s west following reports of a domestic dispute.
The woman was found dead in a bathtub full of acid at her unit on Pennant Hills Rd at North Parramatta around 4.30pm on Sunday after her family called police concerned about her welfare.
Superintendent Julie Boon said officers forced entry to the unit and found the woman’s body in the bathroom.
“I can confirm there were chemicals found inside the bathroom of the unit,” she said on Monday.
Superintendent Boon said the investigation was still in its early stages, with police canvassing neighbours and nearby witnesses.
Police are treating the death as suspicious and formed Strike Force Jenola to investigate with detectives from Parramatta PAC and the State Crime Command’s homicide squad.
Police have released an image and description of a man they believe can assist with inquiries.
Superintendent Boon confirmed the man was in a “domestic relationship” with the woman, but no children were inside the home.
She could not confirm whether the man was a danger to the public.
“However, I would caution any members of the public not to approach him and to contact police if they see him or the vehicle he may be travelling in,” she said.
The scene was “very challenging” for arriving police, who retreated and called Hazmat officers to assess the chemicals found in the bathroom.
The woman’s body was removed from the unit around midnight.
The man is believed to be aged about 20, 175cm-180cm tall, 80kg-90kg with a muscular, athletic build and black hair, a short beard and moustache.
He was last seen wearing a black sleeveless singlet top and jeanxjmtzyws and could have scratches on his face and arms.
Police say he may be driving a Mitsubishi Fuso tipper truck with NSW registration MAKKAC, as seen in the photo.
The truck is believed to be “registered to a business known to the man”.
If anyone sees the man, police are urging them to call triple-0 immediately.
Superintendent Boon is urging anyone who was in the vicinity of Pennant Hills Rd or the unit on Sunday who heard anything out of the ordinary to contact police.
“Our second appeal is to anyone who sees the man whose image has been released is to report that to police or if they know the man to encourage him to come forward so he can assist us with our inquiries,” she said.
Locals have reported hearing screaming in the hours before police arrived on the scene.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
