Detective Inspector Geoff Marsh said Mr White was not initially a suspect in the seven-month long investigation.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Cooktown for their patience and their tolerance of the investigation that has been taking place for the last seven months within that town,” he said.

Det Insp Marsh said the accused grew up in Cooktown and was known to Ms Steele.

The arrest comes more than a week after the Queensland Government offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person responsible for her death.

"No reward has been sought by any person who has provided evidence to the Queensland Police Service. All the information that has been provided to us has been provided freely," Det Insp Marsh said.

Ms Steel, a 42-year-old mother of two boys, was last seen at the Cooktown IGA on August 2 last year.

Her wrapped body was found four days later in the crocodile inhabited Leggett’s Crossing area of the Endeavour River.

Det Insp Marsh hoped the arrest would provide some closure for Ms Steele's traumatised family.

"Obviously it will never bring Donna back," he said.

“The boys will never have a mother, Donna’s brother will never see his sister again, Donna’s father will never see his daughter again, but they’ll have some peace in knowing that the perpetrator of this horrific crime is now being brought before justice and is presently in custody.

"Donna’s boys may have an opportunity now to find some peace knowing that whoever did this to mum is now in custody. The police have got him.”

Mr White has been remanded in custody to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on May 2.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Wednesday August 2, 2017

- Donna Louise Steele is last seen at the Cooktown IGA around midday.

Thursday 3 August, 2017

- Donna Louise Steele is reported missing from a Poison Creek Road home in Cooktown by her husband.
- Cooktown police complete a search of Ms Steele’s family property.
- Queensland Police Media issue a missing person release in an attempt to help locate Ms Steele.

Friday August 4, 2017

- Aerial searches by the Rescue 510 are completed.
- Further searches of Ms Steele’s property and door knock of surrounding properties.

Saturday August 5, 2017

- Further searches of Ms Steele’s property and surrounding areas are conducted by the Cooktown Police, Cairns Dog Squad, the Cooktown State Emergency Service and Cooktown Rural Fire Service.
- Further aerial searches by the Rescue 510 helicopter are completed.

Sunday August 6, 2017

- Officers from the then Stock and Rural Crime Squad conduct further ground searches on trail bikes
- Ms Steele’s body is located in the Endeavour River.
- An Investigation Centre (IC) is set up and homicide investigation Operation Papa Thorium commences with resources from Cooktown and Cairns Criminal Investigation Branches, Major and Organised Crime Squad and the Homicide Investigation Unit.
- A crime scene is declared at Ms Steele’s home and where her body was located.

August 9, 2017

- Ms Steele’s brother Jason conducts a public appeal for anyone with information about his sister’s death to come forward.

August 11, 2017

- The State Emergency Service search the Leggett’s Crossing / Endeavour River area.
- Images of Ms Steel’s car are released as part of a further appeal for public assistance.

August 17, 2017

- Ms Steele’s funeral is held in Atherton

August 25, 2017

- Further searches are conducted of the Endeavour River area.
- A contingent of 20 detectives with the support of general duties officers remain on the investigation.
- Scientific analysis on more than 200 items including 95 from the primary search location is ongoing – trace evidence is identified on some of them.

October 10, 2017

- Further appeals for public assistance are made by police in Cairns.

October 31, 2017

- A man’s shoe is located as part of ongoing searches of the Endeavour River area.

February 23, 2018

- Police Minister Mark Ryan announces a $250,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder of Ms Steele.

March 2018

- New information is provided to police regarding Ms Steele’s death.

March 2, 2018

- Police publicly confirm the belief that the person responsible for Ms Steele’s murder is not from Cooktown.
- Police attend a McCoombe Street address in Mooroobool and arrest a 25-year-old man.
- Detectives formally charge the man with one count each of murder, interfere with a corpse and enter with intent.

March 3, 2018

- A 25-year-old man appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court charged with murder, misconduct with corpse by interfering and enter dwelling with intent.

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* Due to this case being before the courts comments will only be published at the Editor’s discretion.