The relatives of a woman from the Sunshine Coast, who was reportedly killed by her boyfriend during a road trip in the Northern Territory, have characterized her as “one of a kind.”

According to the Northern Territory Police, they discovered the body of 27-year-old Christine Joyce Diane Marshall Hunter in a four-wheel-drive vehicle parked outside Tennant Creek on Sunday morning.

Authorities claim that her boyfriend, a 33-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast, contacted them to report that his girlfriend was injured, stating that the vehicle had collided with a kangaroo near Tennant Creek. He was subsequently taken into custody shortly after his report.

On Thursday evening, police formally charged him with murder.

Jazmyne Lecerf, Ms. Hunter’s older sister, expressed that the tragedy still feels surreal and that the family is grappling with the sudden loss of their beloved member. She described her sister as “loving,” “protective,” and someone who had a remarkable ability to brighten any room she entered.

“Our family is devastated,” Ms. Lecerf stated. “She was truly one of a kind. She was incredibly caring and loving, and she made sure to show that to everyone she cared about.”

Ms. Hunter was raised in Caloundra and worked at a bakery on the Sunshine Coast after completing her education. According to Ms. Lecerf, her sister did not have any immediate family or close friends in the Northern Territory.

“It has been extraordinarily difficult for us to be so far away and feel powerless in this situation,” she shared.

The couple had traveled through various locations including Ban Ban Springs, Emerald, Winton, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, and Camooweal in Queensland as part of their journey. The family noted that the last communication they had with Ms. Hunter was on March 30.

Police are currently awaiting the results of an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of her death. The Sunshine Coast man is scheduled to appear in the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.