Breakthrough in ‘mysterious’ death of a woman found wounded at a waterfront unit as former partner is charged with murder

A man has been charged with murder eight months after a woman died in mysterious circumstances on the NSW mid-north coast.

Megan Tangye, 31, was found with multiple unexplained injuries at a waterfront unit on Gore Street in Port Macquarie at 11.40am on December 27.

She was rushed to hospital and died later that day.

Detectives revealed a 47-year-old man, understood to be Ms Tangye’s former partner, was arrested on a boat moored in the Hastings River on Monday. 

Police boarded the man’s house boat and led him out in handcuffs, before transporting him to Port Macquarie Police Station where he was charged with murder (DV), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV). 

A dog aboard the vessel was also seized by Port Macquarie Hastings Council rangers. 

Detective Inspector Mark Rogers said police had only just received a final findings from an autopsy, which led to the man’s arrest.

‘Whilst there were some preliminary findings for the post-mortem, we only very recently received the actual final findings and that information has been reviewed and we’ve acted on that,’ Det. Insp Rogers said.

A 47-year-old man was arrested on a boat moored in the Hastings River on Monday morning

‘The cause of death in the findings was as a result of blunt-force trauma which is believed to be as a result of an assault.’ 

Det. Insp Rogers said the arrest came as a result of ‘extensive investigation’ and information from Ms Tangye’s family and the wider community.

The man is due to front bail court on Tuesday.

It comes months after Ms Tangye’s family vowed they would see her suspected killer brought to justice.

‘This has hit very close to home; we’re not coping so well… But we’re not going to let this defeat us,’ her sister-in-law Erin Russell told the ABC at the time.

‘Megan was always so kind and caring. She would always be the first person to check in on others.’