Mayang Prasetyo killing: murder weapon found, say Brisbane police

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Item found on chef Marcus Volke, who is believed to have murdered partner Mayang Prasetyo before killing himself

Marcus Volke and Mayang Prasetyo. Photograph: Facebook

Homicide detectives have said they have recovered a potential murder weapon used in a “disturbing” suspected murder-suicide, after a woman’s remains were found in a Brisbane apartment.

More than three days after officers were called to property in Teneriffe, police said they were in contact with the families of chef Marcus Volke and Indonesian woman Mayang Prasetyo, both 27.

The scene was discovered after an electrician was called to repair Volke’s stove, which he allegedly used to boil parts of his partner’s dismembered body.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Armitt said police believed Mayang was killed on Thursday evening or Friday.

“At this present time our investigations are centring around simply that it’s a domestic violence matter that has become out of hand,” he said on Wednesday.

Volke fled the scene when dozens of officers approached the building, before hiding in a nearby industrial bin where he took his own life.

Armitt said police had found the suspected murder weapon on Volke and that third-party involvement was ruled out.

Investigators hoped to release the unit back to the building’s managers on Wednesday, but Armitt refused to elaborate on the graphic and confronting nature of the crime scene.

“In the course of our business in the Queensland police, sometimes we are confronted with disturbing jobs, disturbing images. It’s something that we just have to deal with,” he said. “Obviously it is disturbing.”

Police have been in contact with Mayang’s Indonesian family and will make arrangements to return her remains to them after the Queensland coroner is satisfied her identity has been established.

Volke’s body will be returned to his family in Victoria.

Armitt appealed for anyone who knew the pair to speak to investigating officers.

“As part of our investigation we’d like to present to the coroner information regarding the background of the couple, how they interacted with each other and their relationship,” he said.

“It’s important we do so in order to present a true character of the relationship to the Queensland coroner.”

Mayang, who was also known by the names Mayang Patang and Febri Andriansyah, worked as an escort to support her family in Indonesia and put her two sisters through school.

Volke’s mother has said she spoke to her eldest child days before the murder, and did not notice anything unusual.

• Anyone seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

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