Police are appealing for public assistance to establish the movements of Danielle Easey, whose body was found in a creek near Newcastle at the weekend.
About 10.30am on Saturday (31 August 2019), police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road, Killingworth, after members of the public saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water.
The plastic, containing a woman's body, was removed from the water by officers.
The woman has since been formally identified as 29-year-old, Danielle Easey.
Ms Easey lived in Booragul with family, but more recently she was staying at multiple locations around the area.
Detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District have established Strike Force Furzer to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Homicide Squad's Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said investigators are appealing for assistance from the community to establish Ms Easey's movements in the weeks leading up to her death.
"We know that Danielle was staying at different locations over the last three weeks and we are keen to establish where those locations were and speak to who she stayed with during that time," Det Ch Insp Taylor said.
"Of particular interest to us is any sightings or contact with Danielle since early to mid-August, and we are appealing for those people to contact us as soon as possible.
"Our investigations have revealed Danielle had been associating with people involved in drug-related activities over the last few weeks.
"Detectives have been liaising with her family, who last had contact with Danielle several weeks ago."
It is unknown when Danielle's body was dumped in the creek.
"We are keen to speak to any motorists with dash cam vision who may have been driving in the area of Wakefield Road over the past three weeks," Det Ch Insp Taylor.
Anyone with information about that may assist Strike Force Furzer investigations is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
