GERARD Baden-Clay spent last night behind bars after being charged with the murder of his wife Allison.

Nearly two months after phoning police to say the woman he called his "angel" had disappeared, he was taken into police custody on Wednesday and charged with causing her death.

He was also charged with unlawfully interfering with a corpse.

The real estate agent arrived at Indooroopilly police station yesterday afternoon where he met head of homicide Detective Superintendent Brian Wilkins and the top cop in charge of the drawn-out investigation, Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth.

The detectives left the station at about 5.20pm, refusing to comment.

It is understood Baden-Clay was in the police station for several hours before his lawyer Darren Mahony arrived.

On his way in, Mr Mahony confirmed his client was inside. About an hour later he emerged and said his client was about to be charged.

"Police have indicated the intention to charge my client with murder," Mr Mahony said. "He's devastated."

He said Baden-Clay would "defend the charge vigorously".

Members of the public watched as media waited for Baden-Clay's departure. Shortly after, the 41-year-old was bundled, handcuffed, into a police car and driven to the Brisbane watchhouse by detectives.

Upon arrival at the watchhouse, Baden-Clay looked shocked but just stared straight ahead.

Allison Baden-Clay was reported missing by her husband at 7.30am on April 20 when he told police she had left the house the previous night and not returned.

Her disappearance sparked a massive search, with police turning up on their days off to join dozens of investigators and State Emergency Services volunteers to scour the bush around the family's Brookfield home.

Search crews checked dams and abandoned mine shafts in the densely wooded suburb, pleading with locals to conduct searches of their own properties.

Her body was found 10 days later by a kayaker on the banks of the Kholo Creek at Anstead. At the same time, homicide detectives and scientific investigators arrived at Baden-Clay's Brookfield Rd home.

Police asked The Courier-Mail to move back and blocked the driveway with their cars while investigators scoured the property with torches.

Yesterday, the couple's three daughters, aged 10, 8 and 5, were taken into police care at a separate station before being collected by Allison's parents, Geoff and Priscilla Dickie.

In a statement, the family thanked "all the people who have worked so tirelessly in the wake of this terrible tragedy".

"We are extremely grateful for the support of the community, the people of Brookfield, the SES and the police who have gone beyond the call of duty," they said.

"We love Allison and will always miss her dearly.

"We have a long road ahead of us coming to terms with this horrific crime."

A close friend of Mr and Mrs Dickie said last night they were relieved somebody had been arrested for her murder but were "a long way from achieving closure".

"They (the Dickies) have gotten no joy from this," the friend said. "But at least there's been progress."

In an exclusive interview with The Courier-Mail last month, the Dickies said they would not rest until Allison's killer was brought to justice.

Devastated with the discovery of Allison's body at Kholo Creek crossing, they spoke of the emotional turmoil they had been through and continued to suffer.

A statement released by police last night said a 41-year-old Brookfield man had been charged with murder and would appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

"Police thank the media and public for their assistance during the investigation," the written statement said.

"Media and the public are also asked to respect the privacy of the family and friends of Mrs Baden-Clay during this difficult period."

Baden-Clay's parents, Nigel and Elaine, made no comment to media when they arrived at their Kenmore home yesterday evening.

Allison Baden-Clay was an accomplished ballerina who travelled Australia and the UK as a girl with the Australian Youth ballet.

As an adult, she spoke six languages and rose through the ranks from a Flight Centre sales assistant to the company's national human resources manager.

It was while working at Flight Centre that she met Gerard Baden-Clay. She left her career behind to care for her family of three daughters.

Her husband's great-grandfather, Lord Baden-Powell, started the scouting movement, a fact Baden-Clay mentioned often in his online business profiles.

He was regularly quoted in media reports about the real estate market.

"In business, it's simple: never lie," he said in 2008. "For starters, it's the wrong thing to do but secondly you will always get caught out and usually when you least expect it.

"There are just too many people, too many personalities, too many trails ... and too much to lose."

Additional reporting Brooke Baskin, Greg Stolz and Jason Tin

Originally published as Gerard Baden-Clay charged with murder