Crystal Beale went to dinner with family in Brisbane. She never made it home.

On a Friday night in February, Crystal Beale went to dinner with family and an ex-partner in Brisbane. She spent the night catching up with loved ones.

They never saw her again.

Hours later, early on February 22, a member of the public discovered the 49-year-old mother-of-two's body in the Brisbane River.

Detectives combed through more than 1,000 hours of CCTV trying to piece together Crystal's final hours.

Now, seven months on, her former partner Jesse Wahlen Beale, 49, has been charged with domestic-violence-related murder.

He's accused of murdering Crystal and dumping her body in the river.

Police spent months retracing what they knew of Crystal's final steps.

A man has been charged with murder over the death of Crystal Beale. Image: Facebook/crystalbeale.

CCTV footage of her final night on February 21 shows Crystal leaving the Sunnybank Hotel wearing a long white dress, brown slides and a brown cross-body bag.

Police said Crystal left her family dinner at about 8.30pm and travelled with her ex-partner in a car to the inner Brisbane suburb of West End.

She was allegedly last seen when she left the car at 9.30pm on Ryan Street, West End.

"She was visiting family, and we believe where she's left [with] a man known to her, and that's where she's gone missing. And that's what we're trying to piece together, her movements after that," Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts said at the time.

About 5.40am, a rower made the tragic discovery of her body in the river at Yeronga.

Initially, Crystal showed no obvious signs of injuries, prompting her death to be ruled non-suspicious. However, a homicide investigation was launched following further investigations and a post-mortem.

Police released CCTV of Crystal on the last night she was seen alive. Image: Queensland Police.

Police believe Crystal had been in the water for about six hours.

"The injuries that have been uncovered in the postmortem suggest to us her death is suspicious," Watts said.

Officers later found one of Crystal's sandals in a West End shrubbery and several personal items at nearby Orleigh Park, close to the river.

In an update this week, police said detectives conducted "relentless investigations, combing through over 1000 hours of CCTV and conducting multiple appeals for information to find justice for Crystal".

Police will allege Crystal was murdered on February 21 at or around Ryan Street, West End, and her body was dumped in the river at Orleigh Park.

Detectives searched a home in the Gold Coast hinterland on Monday, arresting Beale on the murder charge and misconduct with a corpse.

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Detective Inspector Wayne Francis said police will allege there was a history of domestic violence, despite the absence of a domestic violence order in place at the time.

"It is reprehensible what happened to Crystal," he said.

"Over the past seven months, detectives have been tirelessly investigating every avenue possible to find answers. We were not going to give up until we could provide these answers and get justice for Crystal."

He said Crystal's family were "doing the best that they can in the circumstances".

"They've lost their mother through horrible circumstances," he said.

"No matter what police action or court action occurs subsequently, they can't get their mother back."

Beale was not required to appear in person in court on Monday. He was remanded in custody until his next appearance on October 20.

Image: Queensland Police.

'She was my everything.'

Following Crystal's death, Watts described her as a "much-loved mother and friend".

"Her death in these circumstances is horrific and we are seeking justice for her and her family," he said.

Crystal leaves behind two children, aged 22 and 15, who police said were "struggling" with their mother's traumatic death.

Her daughter Charlie-Rose Wagner told Brisbane Times in March, there were "no words to describe how painful this is".

"Myself and my family just want answers," she said. "My mum was the most beautiful woman I've ever known. She was my everything."

Crystal's family are calling for answers. Image: Facebook/crystalbeale.

Friend Deborah Makim described Crystal as "such a gentle soul".

"So caring and loving, so devoted to her two beautiful children," she told 7NEWS. "I would just like her not to go unremembered."

Police are continuing to appeal for any further information, particularly CCTV footage that people may not have shared with police.

Police are especially interested in any footage of Crystal on the night and of a white Ford Ranger vehicle.

-with AAP

This article was published in March 2025 and has been updated.

Feature image: Queensland Police.