Two Sunshine Coast men among trio charged with murder

Andrew Burow. (QPS)

Three men, including two from the Sunshine Coast, have been charged with murder following investigations into the suspicious disappearance of 56-year-old Andrew Burow.

It is alleged on 21 August, Mr Burow was taken via car from Kelvin Grove to multiple locations across South East Queensland between 21 to 25 August where the men tortured him.

It is further alleged the trio subsequently killed Mr Burow and left his body beside Brooklands Pimpimbudgee Road at Maidenwell.

North Brisbane District Detective Acting Inspector Murray O’Connell said there was no scenario in which investigators were prepared to give up on finding justice for Mr Burow.

“This was a complex investigation – with the investigative team working around the clock to canvas a significant portion of South East Queensland to locate Mr Burow,” he said.

“The report which led to us locating Mr Burow’s body demonstrates how important every report from media and tips members of the public report to police can be in solving a bigger piece of the puzzle for investigations.

“Despite our serious concerns, we hadn’t given up hope of finding him alive.

“The thoughts of the Service are with Andrew Burow’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Investigators from Brisbane City Criminal Investigation Branch and the Homicide Investigation Unit will allege the 26-year-old North Lakes man and Mr Burow were known to each other.

Mr Burow’s out of character disappearance was reported to police on 24 August.

Late on 26 August, investigations led detectives to believe the disappearance to be suspicious.

Early in the morning on 27 August, an Incident Centre was established by Brisbane City Criminal Investigation Branch under Operation Veer.

Between 27 August to 3 September police issued several appeals for information, which ultimately led to a crime stoppers report leading investigators to locating Mr Burow’s remains at Maidenwell on 2 September.

On 8 October, police charged a 26-year-old North Lakes man, 38-year-old Sippy Downs man, and a 57-year-old Buderim man with one count each of murder, kidnapping, extortion and misconduct with a corpse by interfering.

The 57-year-old Buderim man was charged with an additional one count of torture. The North Lakes and Sippy Downs men were previously charged with this offence on 27 August.

The trio were expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 8 October.

If anyone has relevant information that they have not yet reported to police, investigators continue to urge them to make contact. Investigations are ongoing.