Investigators have confirmed they interviewed the ex-boyfriend of murdered dentist Preethi Reddy before her body was found stuffed in a suitcase inside her car overnight.
Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate revealed officers grilled the man, who was also a dentist, while Dr Reddy was still the subject of a missing person’s inquiry after the pair spent Sunday night together.
He has since been identified as 34-year-old Harshwardhan Narde of Tamworth.In a shocking twist, Narde died on Monday night — a day after Dr Reddy was reported missing — in a head on collision with a truck near Tamworth in what police believe was a deliberate act.Harshwardhan Narde was described as “quiet” by Dr Reddy’s former boss.Source:Facebook
The 49-year-old driver of the fruit and vegetable-laden semi-trailer managed to crawl out of his vehicle before it burst into flames on impact with Dr Narde’s BMW just after 10pm on Monday.
“Police did speak to (the ex-boyfriend) and at that time it was still a missing person’s inquiry,” Supt Dengate said.
Dr Reddy’s remains were found in a suitcase inside her car in laneway at Kingsgate in Sydney’s eastern suburbs just before 9.30pm last night. She had been stabbed numerous times.
The 32-year-old from Penrith in western Sydney had been attending a dental convention at St Leonards over the weekend. She spent Sunday in a hotel on Market Street in the CBD with Dr Narde, who is believed to have accompanied her to the conference.
Supt Dengate said Strike Force Carlwood officers investigating the case were unsure where and when Dr Reddy was murdered but were working on the probability she was killed at the hotel.
“We are still working on the timeline of events and that’s why we need the public to come forward with any information they have,” Supt Dengate said.
Investigators said they were keen to speak to anybody who saw Dr Reddy over the weekend — when she was seen driving her grey VW Golf, registration DFP 78P.
The last images police have gathered of Dr Reddy show she was in a McDonald’s on George Street in the CBD about 2.15am Sunday, as mardi gras celebrations took over the city.
Inside the restaurant, footage shows Dr Reddy standing alone at the counter. She then left the restaurant and walked south through the city towards Market Street.
According to police, she last spoke with her family at about 11am Sunday, saying she planned to head home after having a late breakfast in Sydney.
She was reported missing to Nepean Police Area Command later that night after she failed to arrive home.
Her remains were found last night in Strachan Lane, just a few hundred metres from Anzac Parade and about 700m from the University of New South Wales.
Before her body was found, a Facebook Group called “Help find Preethi Reddy” had been set up by the family to assist the investigation.
In a statement, Sydney City Police Area Command said they were continuing to investigate the circumstances of her death, and anyone with information relating to the incident should come forward.
EX-BOYFRIEND ‘WAS QUIET’
Dentist Robert Lin who hosted the conference Dr Reddy and Narde attended over the weekend said he last saw the pair chatting animatedly at the end of the event while still at the venue.
“They looked happy and stayed back to chat after the conference ended at 6.30pm,” he said.
“I knew they were in a long-term relationship, many of us did.
“The bizarre thing I noticed that night was that he took down his Facebook shortly after the conference. It made me wonder why.”
Hurstville Dental & Physio Centre manager Dave Vagadia told news.com.au that Dr Reddy worked at the surgery as a dentist for about five months until March 2018.
“I saw that she was missing from her sister’s post on Facebook and was in pure shock when I later saw on the news about what had happened,” he said.
“(My reaction was) pure shock.
“I just thought ‘oh my God, how come?’
“She was a strong girl who loved dentistry. She was always cheerful, happy and a positive person. She was hardworking.”
According to Mr Vagadia, Dr Reddy used to frequently talk about Narde and his skills as a dentist, while she was working.
“The last time I saw her was at a conference in Sydney in March last year and she was there with (Narde),” Mr Vagardia said.“He was quiet.” source:news.com