The horrific final moments of a woman allegedly murdered by her partner have been revealed as friends paid emotional tributes.
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.
Her partner Kitchel Kevin Shillingsworth, 36, was charged with murder (domestic violence) and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Neighbours remembered Ms Jensen as ‘funny, kind and caring’.
A close friend who asked not to be identified told the Courier Mail Ms Jensen ‘always had a smile on her face and was always laughing.’
The grief-stricken friend said Ms Jensen was very family oriented, loved her cats and dog, and was always happy to offer advice and would sit with her for hours.
She said Ms Jensen visited her on Sunday the day before her death and she didn’t realise it would be the last time she would ever see her.
‘As she left I gave her a hug and told her she looked happy,’ she said.
A grief-stricken friend said Ms Jensen (pictured) was very family oriented and loved her cats and dog
‘She told me she loved me, and I said it back.’
A neighbour revealed they heard screaming and yelling coming from Ms Jensen’s house on Sunday night.
‘I woke up this morning and saw all the police outside, I can’t believe something like this had happened.’
The grim discovery of Ms Jensen’s body on Monday sparked an urgent search for her partner Kitchel Shillingsworth, 36, who was allegedly seen leaving the home earlier that morning.
After being spotted, Shillingsworth allegedly led police on an hour-long chase – including the use of a Polair helicopter – that ended when police used tyre spikes to stop his vehicle at Ipswich Boonah Road at Peak Crossing.
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.
Police officers at the scene of Ms Jensen’s alleged murder at a house in Flinders Drive in the Ipswich suburb of Leichhardt south-west of Brisbane
Emergency responders found Ms Jensen suffered several critical stab wounds in what Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts described as ‘very traumatic’ scenes.
Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts confirmed Ms Jensen and Shillingsworth were in a defacto relationship.
‘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.
Anyone with information that could assist with police investigations, is urged to contact police.
