The two young Saudi Arabian sisters, whose bodies were discovered in a south-western Sydney apartment decomposing, were depicted in disturbing images that haven’t done much to solve the puzzle of why they were in Australia and how they died.
There are many unanswered questions that have investigators baffled, from their luxury car to their strange movements at all hours of the day.
Even the press conference that police convened to request assistance took a turn when the venue and time were abruptly changed, making it impossible for many journalists to attend.
The post-mortem, which was conducted after the bodies of Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, and Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, whose remains were discovered rotting in separate bedrooms, provided little insight into the cause of death, adding to the mystery.
During a welfare check on June 7, police discovered the sisters in their first-floor Canterbury apartment, but according to the investigation, they passed away in early May.
Both a clear cause of death and evidence of forced entry were absent.
Nobody seemed to notice they were missing or even know they were missing.
The only person to notice something was amiss was their landlord, who, unaware that Amaal had already passed away, attempted to bring a civil lawsuit against her for failing to pay rent on May 13 of this year.
Detective Claudia Allcroft stated during a press conference on Wednesday that despite post-mortem examinations being done on June 9 and 10, police are still unsure of how the women died.
Even though the case is being investigated as suspicious, authorities are hoping that the upcoming toxicology reports will shed some light on the puzzling circumstances.
Here, Daily Mail Australia examines the peculiar case of Asra and Amaal from within.
Entry into Australia
When the Alsehli sisters arrived in Australia in 2017, at ages 18 and 19, Detective Claudia Allcroft said on Wednesday that she did not have any information to suggest that they had fled Saudi Arabia at the time.
On Wednesday, police refused to provide information about the women’s visa status, but the spokesperson did confirm that officers had spoken to the family, who have asked the consulate to act on their behalf.
Family members were helping police with their investigations, she continued, and there was “nothing to suggest” that they were suspects.
However, sources told Daily Mail Australia that the women had been in touch with a refugee service—which aids people from other countries fleeing persecution and applying for asylum—for five years.
The sisters were reportedly not in regular communication with their family members back home, according to sources.
The women had no connections or family in Australia, Nine Radio reporter Clinton Maynard said on Wednesday to 2GB radio.
They don’t appear to have many friends or associates here, and they have very few connections in this nation, including no family.
Cash Availability
Officers are still unable to determine the women’s occupations, despite the fact that each had a unique Australian business name.
In 2018, each registered their respective ABN as sole traders at an address in Sydney’s west, Wetherill Park.
Although their source of income is unknown, the Alsehli sisters didn’t seem to have any trouble getting by.
They flew from Saudi Arabia to Sydney for an average price of $2000, drove a black BMW car with a sticker price of more than $38,000, and resided in a contemporary, two-bedroom apartment for $490 per week.
The women reportedly frequently visited the neighbourhood service station for coffee and energy drinks, where staff members referred to them as “cheerful,” but noted that they would only speak when provoked by questions and never initiate them.
The sisters would come in during the day to buy drinks, according to a female employee, but they only seemed to fill up their BMW at night.
One girl would frequent the store to purchase iced coffee and occasionally V [energy drink].
One female attendant remarked, “Occasionally twice or three times per day.”
I was never her servant, but I would see her sister walking up the street with her.
I was shocked and perplexed when I learned what had happened to them.
She was very amiable. She always smiled when I spoke to her when she came in. She never seemed dejected.
Protection Order
In 2018, Asra submitted an AVO against a 28-year-old male.
However, in January of the following year, the case was dismissed at Fairfield Local Court.
According to Daily Mail Australia, the accused man had an Arabic interpreter present in court.
The AVO’s specifics are unknown.
KEYED BMW
Someone keyed their black BMW a few months before the first of three welfare checks in 2022.
It is unknown if the destruction of their property was an accident or if it was done with malice.
The Welfare Checks: Three
Due to food being left out in communal areas and his concern for their welfare, the building manager of their Canterbury apartment called the police in the middle of March.
The women appeared fine, according to the officers who visited them, and no further action was necessary.
Soon after, another welfare check was conducted.
A source told Daily Mail Australia that the women were “timid” and wouldn’t allow anyone into the apartment during one check.
Although they spent the time huddled together in the far corner of the unit, the sisters eventually allowed officers inside.
They responded to straightforward inquiries about their well-being, one sitting while the other cowered behind her.
The insider claimed that “they seemed aloof and didn’t really want to talk.”
Although they claimed to be fine, something seemed odd. What else could one possibly do?
Quit paying the rent
The rental payments ceased around two months after the welfare checks, and mail began to accumulate at their door.
The property manager dialling 911.
After the landlord of the sisters’ contacted the sheriff’s office to serve the duo with an eviction notice, police were already en route to the area.
On May 13 of this year, their landlord attempted to file a civil lawsuit against Amaal for failure to pay rent, unaware that both of them would have likely passed away by then.
Unknown Deaths
A month after the women’s deaths, their bodies were discovered.
No forceful entrance was evident, and no visible evidence of harm, according to police who searched the area.
On June 9 and 10, post-mortem examinations were performed, but investigators are still unable to identify the cause of death.
Although they have made a second request for information, they are still awaiting toxicological reports.
‘Detectives are keen in speaking with anyone who may have seen or who may have knowledge regarding the women’s movements in the days and weeks before to their deaths,’ Detective Allcroft said on Wednesday.
“We hope that someone may be able to help our detectives — either through sightings, or individuals who knew the sisters and may have some knowledge on their whereabouts before they died.”