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A 36-year-old has been charged over the alleged murder of Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell in what police have described as a "crucial breakthrough" in the case.
Michael Jay Evans did not appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court today when he was formally charged with murder, interfering with a corpse and arson.
Sam Price-Purcell, 25, was in the Mitchelton area in Brisbane's north on February 16, 2015, but police believe he then travelled in a yellow Holden Commodore to Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs.
He has not been seen since, and homicide investigators believe he met with foul play.
Homicide Detective Acting Inspector David Nicoll said the alleged murder was motivated by an unpaid debt, and that Mr Price-Purcell and Mr Evans were associates.
"The exact nature of their association is still under investigation," he said.
"There are a number of other suspects for this investigation and police are committed to bringing all of those responsible for Sam's murder before the courts.
"We believe there was a number of people involved in his actual murder and there was at least one other who was an accessory."
Acting Inspector Nicoll said there was a core team of about eight investigators who had been working extensively on the case for a year.
"It's very pleasing to be able to solve an offence such as this and very pleasing to be able to make that phone call to the next of kin and advise them," he said.
Police have made several enquiries during the investigation, including the forensic examination last Friday of a yellow vehicle suspected of being involved in the crime.
Officers also searched properties at Leyburn and Helidon earlier this year.
Detectives charged Mr Evans this morning with Mr Price-Purcell's murder.
The Leyburn man's case was adjourned until September 10 when he is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Acting Inspector David Nicoll said the arrest was "a crucial breakthrough for us" after a comprehensive investigation by detectives.
"We would like to thank those members of the community who came forward and provided us with information and assistance in this case," he said.
"However while this arrest is certainly a significant breakthrough for us, it does not mark the end."
He said Mr Price-Purcell's remains had not yet been found.
"We still have more work to do and remain committed to bringing all those responsible for Sam's murder before the court," he said.
"Importantly, Sam's remains have not been located and police are appealing for anyone with information in relation to Sam's murder or the location of his remains to contact police."
Police have previously said Mr Price-Purcell came from a good family, but "got mixed up in the wrong crowd" and was involved in drugs.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, crime, murder-and-manslaughter, toowoomba-4350, leyburn-4365, brisbane-4000, qld, mitchelton-4053, helidon-4344, australia
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