The girls no-one knew: The disturbing, unanswered questions about the suspicious deaths of two Saudi Arabian women hiding in a humble western Sydney apartment

• Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, died in May this year
• Their decomposing remains were found by NSW Police about a month later
• No signs of forced entry, and cops are unable to determine a cause of death
• Both had Australian business names, but it’s unclear what they did for work
• They drove a $38,000 BMW, lived in a two-bedroom $490-per-week apartment
• Do you know more? Email [email protected] 

Haunting images released of the two young Saudi Arabian sisters whose bodies were found decomposed in a south-western Sydney apartment have done little to end the mystery as to why they were in Australia and how they died.

From their luxury car to unusual movements throughout all hours of the day, there are a raft of unanswered questions that have left investigators scratching their heads.

Even the press conference that police called to appeal for help took a twist when the location was shifted at the last minute, and the time suddenly moved forward – meaning many journalists could not attend.

Adding to the intrigue is the post-mortem has shed little light into the cause of death, after the bodies of Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, whose remains were found rotting in separate bedrooms.

Pictured: Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23. Her body was found on June 7 in a Canterbury apartment

Pictured: Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24. She and her sister were found dead in Sydney’s south-west under ‘suspicious’ circumstances

Police found the sisters in their first-floor Canterbury apartment during a welfare check on June 7 but investigators believe the women died in early May.

There was no clear cause of death, and no signs of forced entry.

No one reported them missing, or even appeared to notice their absence.

The only person who realised something was wrong was their landlord, who attempted to file a civil case against Amaal on May 13 this year for failing to pay rent – not knowing the young woman was deceased by that stage.

Post-mortem examinations were conducted on June 9 and 10, but Detective Claudia Allcroft said during a press conference on Wednesday that police still do not know how the women died.

The case is being treated as suspicious, but they hoping pending toxicology reports provide some answers in the mysterious situation which even has investigators scratching their heads.

Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look inside the bizarre case of Asra and Amaal. 

Arrival in Australia

Detective Claudia Allcroft said on Wednesday that she does not have any information to suggest the Alsehli sisters had fled Saudi Arabia when they landed in Australia in 2017 – when they were 18 and 19 years’ old.

Police would not reveal details about the women’s visa status on Wednesday, but she did say officers had been in touch with the family – who have instructed the consulate to act on their behalf. 

She added that family members were assisting police with inquiries and there was ‘nothing to suggest’ they are suspects. 

The bodies of the two women were found in a Canterbury apartment block (pictured)

UNSOLVED MYSTERIES

– May have fled  Saudi Arabia as teens.

– Had access to money and drove a BMW.

– Both had Australian business names, but police can’t confirm what they did for work.

– Filed an AVO, and then withdrew it.

– BMW was keyed.

– Three police welfare checks.

– Stopped paying rent.

– Bodies found a month after they died. 

– Cause of death unknown.

However, sources told Daily Mail Australia the women were in contact with a refugee service for five years, which helps foreign nationals escaping persecution and seeking asylum.

Sources also said the sisters were not in regular contact with their relatives back home.

Nine Radio reporter Clinton Maynard told 2GB radio on Wednesday the women had no friends or family in Australia.

‘They have very few connections in this country, no family, they don’t seem to have many friends or associates here.’

Access to Cash 

Officers still can not confirm what the women did for a living, even though both women had separate Australian business names.

Each registered their respective ABN as sole traders in 2018 to a Wetherill Park address, in Sydney’s west.

While their source of income has not been made public, the Alsehli sisters didn’t appear to struggle to make ends meet.

Plane tickets from Saudi Arabia to Sydney cost an average of $2000, they drove a black BMW coupe which normally costs upwards of $38,000, and lived in a modern, two-bedroom $490-per-week apartment.

A black BMW coupe covered in dust was removed from the garage of the apartment block

The women also regularly went to the local service station for coffee and energy drinks where workers described them as ‘cheerful’, but noted they would only respond to questions – they never started the conversation.

One female attendant said the sisters would visit the store to pick up drinks during the day, but only appeared to refuel their BMW at night. 

‘One girl would come in to buy iced coffee and sometimes V [energy drink]. ‘ Sometimes two or three times a day,’ one female attendant said.

‘I never served her sister but I would see them walking up the street together. When I found out what happened to them, I was very shocked and confused.’

‘She was so friendly. Every time she came in and I talked to her she would smile. She never looked sad.’

Police are pictured at the apartment block on June 8.

Restraining Order

Asra filed an AVO against a 28-year-old man in 2018.

However, the matter was withdrawn in Fairfield Local Court in January the following year.

Daily Mail Australia understands the man in question had an Arabic interpreter in court.

The details of the AVO are not known. 

BMW Keyed 

A few months prior to the first of three welfare checks in 2022, someone keyed their black BMW. 

It is not known if it was a coincidence, or if whoever destroyed their property had malicious intent.

Daily Mail Australia understands the women fled the Middle East in 2017 to seek shelter in Australia. They were regulars at a petrol station (pictured) near their Canterbury unit 

Three Welfare Checks

The building manager of their Canterbury apartment contacted police in mid-March because food was left out in common areas, and he was concerned for their welfare.

Officers who visited the women said they appeared fine, and there was no further action required.

There was another welfare check soon after.  

During one check, a source told Daily Mail Australia the women were ‘timid’ and refused to let anyone enter the apartment.

Forensics scoured the unit (pictured) in the wake of the grisly discovery 

The sisters eventually let officers inside, but spent it huddled together in the far corner of the unit. 

One sat down while the other cowered behind her as they answered simple questions about their wellbeing.

‘They were standoffish and didn’t really want to talk,’ the source said. 

‘Something felt off, but they said they were ok. What more could anyone do?’

Stopped Paying Rent 

About two months after the welfare checks, the rental payments stopped and mail started piling up at their door.

The building manager calling the police.

Police were already planning to head to the scene after the sisters’ landlord contacted the sheriff’s department to serve the pair an eviction notice.

Their landlord tried to file a civil case against Amaal on May 13 this year for failing to pay rent, not knowing both were likely dead by that date.

Investigators spent days the apartment building with forensic teams poring over the scene

Mysterious Deaths

The women were found dead about a month after they died.

Police scoured the scene and said there was no sign of forced entry, and no obvious signs of injury.

Post-mortem examinations were conducted on June 9 and 10, but police still can’t determine a cause of death.

They are awaiting toxicology reports, but have issued a second appeal for information.

Detective Allcroft said on Wednesday: ‘Detectives are interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen or who may have information about the women’s movements in the days and weeks prior to their deaths.’

‘We hope that someone may be able to assist our investigators – either through sightings, or those who knew the sisters and may have some information on their movements prior to their death.’

TIMELINE 

2017: It is understood Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, fled Saudi Arabia to seek safe shelter in Australia.

Began communications with a refugee agency which helps people escaping persecution. 

2019: Asra took an AVO out against a man, but it was later dismissed.

2020: They frequently visited a service station around their flat, with locals describing them as ‘friendly’.

2022: Police conducted two welfare checks early in the year.

In one of the checks, the pair were described as ‘timid’ and refused to let anyone enter the apartment.

They eventually allowed officers to enter, but stayed huddled together in the far corner of the unit.

May, 2022: The owner of their Canterbury unit filed a civil case against Asra on May 13.

That action was taken four weeks after sheriff’s officers went to the apartment to serve the women with an eviction notice.

June 7, 2022: Officers conducting a welfare check made the grisly discovery. 

There was no sign of forced entry. 

Police believe the sisters died in May, but have not been able to determine a cause of death.

Source: Read Full Article