The man accused of murdering Queensland mother Donna Steele has been described as a "quiet kid" who was at his regular football practice just three days before his arrest.
Matthew Ross White, 25, was arrested in Cairns in the state's far north on Friday night and charged with murder and misconduct with a corpse.
The charges came seven months after the body of Ms Steele, 42, was found in Isabella Creek at Leggett's Crossing, about 20 kilometres from her home in Cooktown in August.
Mr White played AFL for a local Cairns side and his club's president Robbie Taranto said the team was in shock.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms Steele's family … and we'll see the outcome in due time," he said.
"He was at training on Tuesday night — you wouldn't have even picked [that he would be arrested]."
He said the club was now working to support the team and friends of the accused killer.
"He's always been a quiet kid, and nothing's really changed over the last seven months," Mr Taranto said.
Mr White grew up in Cooktown but was now living in Cairns.
Mayor relieved at charges
Police said it was one of the most resource-intensive investigations in far north Queensland in recent memory.
It involved many detectives working out of Cooktown over an extended period, following hundreds of lines of enquiry.
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said he was relieved charges had finally been laid.
"We can get closure, not just for the poor family, but also for the community who've been suffering a bit through this," he said.
"There was a bit of a cloud over us there for a while, while this thing remained unsolved and people were a little suspicious of each other."
In the past seven months many rumours have spread through the small seaside town, with fears the killer was still living in Cooktown.
Detectives remain in Cooktown, but police said they did not believe anyone else was involved with the offence.
