A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his partner to death and leading police on an hour-long pursuit.
Mother-of-two Kierra-Lea Jensen, 28, was found with multiple stab wounds at a home on Flinders Drive in the Ipswich suburb of Leichhardt – south-west of Brisbane on Monday morning after concerned relatives asked police to conduct a welfare check.
The grim discovery sparked an urgent search for her partner Kitchel Shillingsworth, 36, who was allegedly seen leaving the home earlier that morning in a white Toyota.
He allegedly led police on an hour-long chase, which included a Polair helicopter, that finally came to an end when police used tyre spikes to stop his vehicle at Ipswich Boonah Road at Peak Crossing.
Shillingsworth has since been charged with murder (domestic violence) and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and will appear at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Two crime scenes were established in relation to Ms Jensen’s death – one at the Leichhardt home and another where Shillingsworth’s car was stopped.
Queensland Police also searched Wyaralong Dam for a knife suspected to be used in the alleged attack.
Emergency responders found Ms Jensen suffered several critical stab wounds in a what detective acting superintendent Garry Watts described as ‘very traumatic’ scenes.
The body of Kierra-Lea Jensen (pictured) was found at a home on Flinders Drive in Leichhardt south-west of Brisbane on Monday morning
Ms Jensen’s partner Kitchel Shillingsworth (pictured) will face court on Tuesday charged with murder and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
‘I can assure members of the community that the Queensland Police Service takes [alleged] incidents of domestic and family violence very seriously,’ supt Watts said.
‘And we investigate those incidents as best we can and take action where appropriate.’
‘Our hearts go out to all involved in this tragedy, especially the family of the victim.’
Shillington’s vehicle was towed away from the scene of his arrest for forensic examination.
Supt Watts also revealed that police attended the Leichhardt home last week but ‘no offences were detected’ or action was taken at the time.
Ms Jensen was the 49th Australian woman allegedly killed in a domestic violence incident in 2024.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Shillingsworth led police on an hour-long chase that only came to an end when police used tyre spikes to stop his vehicle
