SYDNEY — Australian police have called off a homicide investigation after forensic examinations determined that what two members of the public believed were human remains inside a discarded suitcase were in fact a lifelike doll.

The discovery was made Sunday by two men driving through Oallen, a small town roughly 200 kilometers, or about 125 miles, southwest of Sydney in New South Wales. According to police, the pair spotted a suitcase dumped on the side of the road, opened it, and found what appeared to be the remains of a deceased woman inside. New South Wales Police were called to the scene just before 1 p.m. local time.

Officers established a crime scene at the location but did not closely examine the contents of the bag at the time, a standard precaution in cases involving suspected human remains. Superintendent Linda Bradbury told reporters that investigators generally avoid disturbing a potential scene more than necessary, particularly under difficult conditions. "We don't like to disturb remains too much in situ," Bradbury said, citing poor weather that had affected the area both on the day of the discovery and the following day.

It wasn't until forensic examiners later assessed the item more closely that its true nature became clear. In a statement issued........

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