Missing and Murdered: 1992

Friday, December 18, 1992

Claare MORRISON

A WEB of intrigue surrounds the death of 13-year-old Norlane girl Clare Morrison whose body was found washed up on Bells Beach in 1992. Hours before her grisly death, Clare spent a Friday night in Geelong’s mall and at Eastern Beach.
About 10.30pm Clare was seen at the city McDonald’s drunk. She was last seen walking in the mall towards
Moorabool St at midnight but what happened in the next 7.5 hours has frustrated and baffled police.
The young girl’s nearnaked body was found washed up on the shores of Bells Beach at 7.25am.
But what made the probe into Clare’s death even more difficult was that by the time she was found, a shark mauled her and the injuries to her throat, face and back of skull did not conclusively prove how she died.
Police said she was seen in a dark maroon or blue vehicle about 11.30pm with unknown males on the night she died.
Neither the car nor its occupants have been identified. Who took Clare to the beach? Why would someone want to kill her? Someone knows what happened but is holding on to a deep and dark secret.

Tuesday, December 1, 1992

Amelia Toa Hausia

Personal Details
Last seen: Tuesday, 1 December 1992
Year of birth: 1974
Height: 160cm
Build: Medium
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Complexion:
Gender: Female
Distinguishing Feature:
Circumstances: Amelia was last seen at a local shopping centre, ACT. She went missing after a fight with her boyfriend. In July 1993 she contacted her natural mother in Tonga by phone and stated that she was still alive. Amelia has not been seen or heard of since.

Wednesday, October 7, 1992

Rhianna BARREAU

Amy Noonan The Advertiser February 08, 2010
RHIANNA Barreau should have celebrated her 30th birthday on Sunday. But Rhianna's future was snatched from her when she disappeared from her Morphett Vale home almost 18 years ago.
Rhianna was 12 years old when she vanished from her Morphett Vale home and left behind a mother, father and brother heartbroken by her disappearance. Police believe she was murdered shortly after she disappeared.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Kinsman, from the Major Crime Investigation Branch, said Rhianna's missing person case would remain open until someone was convicted of her abduction and murder.
"Police never give up. The lack of a body does not stop people from being charged with murder," Det-Sgt Kinsman said.
He urged who thought they knew something that could help to ring Crime Stoppers.
"Anything, any information no matter how trivial may assist us in any case," he said.

Det-Sgt Kinsman could not reveal whether police had a suspect for Rhianna's abduction and murder.
What can be reported are the facts of her disappearance.
Rhianna's mother Paula last saw her on October 7, 1992, about 8.30am.
Ms Barreau was studying at TAFE and initially she planned to meet Rhianna later that day at Colonnades shopping centre, where Rhianna wanted to buy a Christmas card for her American pen friend.
However, Ms Barreau heard on radio that Wednesday morning that bus drivers planned a snap strike.
Ms Barreau suggested Rhianna, who was on school holidays, walk to a nearby newsagent instead.
Ms Barreau hugged and kissed her daughter goodbye and never saw her again.
When Ms Barreau returned home at 4.10pm, she found the front door locked, the television on and a vinyl record on the living room floor, as though Rhianna had been playing it.
The Christmas card, complete with its wrapper, was on the dining room table.
Witnesses told police they saw Rhianna walking towards a Reynella newsagency about 10.30am.
She was also sighted walking alone at Morphett Vale High School at 12.30pm.
Det-Sgt Kinsman said missing persons cases were always distressing for families.
"I can't speak for the family, they're all getting on with their lives as best as they can, but they would hope, as I do, that one day media publicity will prompt something to occur that will bring the investigation to a successful conclusion," he said.
"When there's a release in the media about a body or remains being located I would surmise that people who have lost loved ones, lost relatives, lost friends would immediately be thinking is that their loved one?"
However he warned parents should not be paranoid about letting their children play - Rhianna's abduction, though tragic, is rare.
"Stranger abductions are a very rare occurrence, and it is borne out in statistics that the victims of personal crimes such as sexual abuse and homicide, know the perpetrators in a high number of cases - in homicide it's more than 80 per cent.
"I think with a healthy family environment children should be encouraged to talk to mum and dad or a trusted adult about any worries."
A $200,000 reward is on offer for information about Rhianna.
Even someone who remained anonymous could collect some money, Det-Sgt Kinsman said.
"Everyone who rings Crime Stoppers is given a caller ID number, whether they want to remain anonymous or not. They can then use that number every time they ring.
"I think anybody that would assist the immediate victims of this, and that's the family and friends of Rhianna, anybody that could assist bringing this matter to closure would be helping them very much and also helping the general public of South Australia."
Anyone with information about Rhianna's disappearance or other crimes should phone BankSA Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Saturday, August 1, 1992

Kathleen Ursula Farrell

Last seen: Tuesday, 1 September 1992 Age: 24 Year of birth: 1968 Height: 160cm Build: Medium Eyes: Brown Hair: Light Brown/Blonde Complexion: Fair Gender: Female Distinguishing Feature: burn scar on her left hip Circumstances: Kathleen Ursula Farrell was last known to work on the Gold Coast up to September 1992. She contacted her family mid 1992, however has failed to make any further contact with her family or friends since that time.

Saturday, May 16, 1992

Radina Marie Djukich

Age at Time of Disappearance: 14 years old Last Seen: May 16, 1992 Location Perth, Western Australia. Classification: Missing Date Of Birth: July 29 1977 Height: 5'3" - 160 cm. Distinguishing Characteristics: She has a noticeable turned left eye. White female. Blue eyes, Auburn hair. Last Seen Wearing: Blue jeans ("JAG" brand), red jumper and sports shoes. Circumstances: Radina Djukich was reported missing by Ronald Joseph Buckland on May 16, 1992, six weeks after she was released into his care after an appearance in the Children's Court. At the time, Buckland was on parole after serving part of a six-year sentence for breaking and entering. He had an extensive criminal record, including convictions for assault and armed robbery. In 1982, he had been declared an habitual criminal. Buckland was not Radina's father in any legal sense, yet the Children's Court released her on a $1000 surety with the condition that she lived with Buckland and observed a 7pm to 7am curfew. When she disappeared Buckland said she had run away interstate. A year later, Buckland murdered his 18-year-old girlfriend, Vicki Robinson, after an argument, and buried her body in bush near Yanchep. He is serving a 20-year sentence for the crime. In 1996, Buckland told police Radina had been murdered but denied responsibility. He led officers on an unsuccessful search for her body around the Star Swamp in the Perth suburb of North Beach. Radina's mother, Christine Djukich, wants to know why her daughter was released into the care of a violent offender who claimed to be her father. If you have any information or sightings please contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Thursday, May 14, 1992

Debra Joy Donnachy

Personal Details
Status: Murdered Body Located.
Missing 14 May 1992
Age:46
Height (cm):160
Hair Colour:Auburn
Eye Colour:Hazel
Build:Slim
Date of Disappearance:1992/05/14
Town/City:Armadale, Perth
State:WA
Country:Australia
Distinguishing Features: Impaired speech. Walks with a pronounced limp
Circumstances: Debra DONNACHY was last seen at her home in Oscar Street, Armadale on the 14th of May, 1992. Despite extensive inquiries by Police and family and comprehensive media coverage, there has been no information regarding her movements after that time.

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Police have today positively identified human remains
ABC Australia Online Posted Sat Apr 10, 2004
Police have today positively identified human remains found in a shallow grave after a skull and leg bones were found at Karragullen, south-east of Perth, last week.

Detective Sergeant Scott Higgins says investigators used distinctive jewellery found at the crime scene and X-rays to positively identify Debra Joy Donnachy.

Ms Donnachy's husband, James Donnachy, filed a missing persons report in relation to his wife's disappearance in May 1992.

He became a suspect in the disappearance, but was killed in a vehicle accident the day after police interviewed him in relation to the report.

Detective Sergeant Higgins says police inquiries have been frustrated because their main suspect was dead.

"It was a fairly difficult inquiry because the missing person was, as I said, missing," he said.

"The main suspect was deceased, there were very few clues at the house and there were no other witnesses that they could find."

Tuesday, March 31, 1992

Maureen McLaughlin

Nick Ralston SMH June 20, 2011 - 1:12PM

Maureen McLaughlin ... went missing in 1992.

The sister of a woman whose body was found in a shallow grave in the state’s central west has urged anyone who knows what happened to her to come forward and give closure to the family after 20 years.
Maureen McLaughlin, 23, was last seen on March 31, 1992 at a hotel on Main Street at Lithgow.
The day before, she had been at Katoomba RSL where she made three withdrawals from the ATM, caught a taxi home to Leura and then left again a short time later.
Ms McLaughlin was reported missing by her father on April 3. Her body was found 10 days later with injuries to her head and body in a a shallow grave off State Mine Gully Road at Lithgow.
The NSW government announced a $100,000 reward in 1994 but no one came forward.
Today, Police Minister Mike Gallacher said that reward had now been doubled to $200,000.
"For 19 years, everyday of our life, we have wondered what has happened to our sister," Maureen’s sister Jane McLaughlin said.
"We would just like someone in the public who knows something what happened to her, why she was taken from us, just to come forward so we as a family can have closure that we rightly deserve."
Unsolved Homicide chief, Detective Inspector John Lehmann, said officers were currently re-interviewing witnesses, speaking to those who were not interviewed in 1992, as well as following up new information that has come forward.
However, he refused to disclose what that information was.
"We have no doubt that there’s more than one person out there that knows how Maureen died and also more than one person who knows how her body was disposed of when it was found in the shallow grave," he said.
Mrs McLaughlin said she had promised her father, who died in May last year, that she would not let up on finding out what happened to her sister.
"I do believe that the grief [my father] went through contributed to a long death for him, but the one wish in life he wanted was to know what happened to Maureen and he never got that,’’ Ms McLaughlin said.

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$200,000 reward for cold case murder

Blue Mountains Gazette News BY KRYSTYNA POLLARD 22 Jun, 2011 10:07 AM

A $200,000 reward is being offered for information in relation to the cold case murder of Leura woman, Maureen McLaughlin. The 23-year-old was last believed seen on March 31, 1992 at a hotel on Main Street, Lithgow, and her father reported her missing to local police three days later.
Her body was discovered by a bushwalker in a shallow grave off State Mine Gully Road at Lithgow on April 13, 1992.
Police Minister Michael Gallacher announced the state government was posting the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder alongside police and Ms McLaughlin’s sister, Jane, on Monday, June 20.
A $100,000 reward was offered in 1994 for 12 months but no one came forward, he said.
“The slightest piece of information could help detectives put the puzzle together to solve this case, so I’d encourage anyone with information, no matter how small to come forward,” Mr Gallacher said in a statement.
Ms McLaughlin had attended the Katoomba RSL club on Lurline Street on March 30 where she made three separate ATM withdrawals, the last at 4.37pm.
She then caught a taxi home to Leura before leaving again a short time later.
Investigations into her disappearance were conducted by Blue Mountains police before the bushwalker reported discovering a body at Lithgow, later identified as Ms McLaughlin.
Mr Gallacher hoped the appeal would lead to the case being wrapped up.
“Maureen McLaughlin’s family has lived in limbo for almost 20 years, and I sincerely hope this reward leads to someone coming forward with the information that will help solve this case,” he said.

Monday, March 16, 1992

Annette Maree Steward

Circumstances: ANNETTE Steward’s family should have been attending her 30th birthday – instead it was her funeral. Just two days shy of the mother-of-two’s milestone, she was found bashed, strangled and possibly raped inside her

Hope St

home in Geelong West.
She failed to turn up to work at the Winchester ammunition factory in Point Henry and a work colleague – and former flat mate – went to her home to check on her. He will never forget what he saw as he walked in at 1pm: Ms Steward naked and sprawled diagonally across her double bed. She was motionless – a plastic electrical cord wrapped around her neck – and covered in bruises. Police named her former lover as their top suspect. The pair had a sexual relationship before her death and were seen arguing two days before her killing. Ms Steward had complained to family and friends that she was being sexually harassed by a workmate.

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Coroner names murder suspect
POLICE were tightlipped on whether they will charge a man today named by a coroner as the chief suspect in the murder of a Victorian woman 15 years ago.
Victorian Coroner Iain West today named Craig Cameron Rogers as the sole suspect in the 1992 murder of Roger's co-worker Annette Steward in her Geelong West home.

Victoria Police spokesman Senior Constable Adam West would not confirm whether police would now charge Rogers, but said investigations were continuing.

Ms Steward, 28, was found naked in the bedroom of her home with a plastic electric cord around her neck and head injuries on March 18, 1992.

In delivering his findings today, Mr West said suspicion surrounded the activities of Mr Rogers - who worked with Ms Steward at the Winchester Ammunition Factory at Point Henry - and the accounts he provided to investigators.

"Mr Rogers remains a person of interest to investigating police, despite his consistent denials of killing her," Mr West said.

On the last day Ms Steward attended work on March 16, 1992, she was angry and told colleagues she had argued with Mr Rogers.

Mr Rogers - who had known Ms Steward about two years - was also identified as the person who broke into her house about a week earlier, entering her bedroom and waking her from sleep.

Ms Steward had also complained to family and friends she was being sexually harassed by a co-worker.

Another man, Keith Pengelly, admitted to having an affair with Ms Steward and was co-operative with police about their relationship.

Mr Pengelly had visited Ms Steward at her home on March 16, 1992, with three friends.

But after extensive investigation, police found no evidence to link him to her murder.

Mr Rogers, however, was interviewed by detectives several times where he gave a number of false denials, Mr West said in his finding.

"But they established that he was far more involved with the deceased than he had previously led police to believe."

The victim's sisters, Jannette Path and Gillian Steward, and the victim's son Aaron Steward, were present at the hearing.

Outside the Victorian Coroner's Court, Ms Steward said the family welcomed the finding.

"It was everything we expected and it was good to hear it from the coroner," Ms Steward said.

"It confirms what police have been investigating."

Ms Steward said the family hoped the finding would shed more light on the unsolved murder.

"We do hope that someone will come forward with more evidence the police can use and one day resolve the case," she said.

"(If) someone has had a falling out or someone has said something years ago that hasn't meant anything then, but after the case now and the coroner giving his findings, it may trigger something that they do remember, and come forward and let the police know."

AAP

From: Herald Sun January 30, 2007 12:00AM

Sunday, February 2, 1992

Prudence Bird

Personal Details
Last seen: 2.10pm on February 2, 1992
Employment: Student
Age:13
Year of birth: 1979
Height:
Build:
Eyes:
Hair: Fair
Complexion: Fair
Gender: Female
Distinguishing Feature:
Circumstances: Schoolgirl Prudence Bird, known as Prue, disappeared from her home in Justin Avenue, Glenroy.

Reward
The mother of a 13-year-old girl who vanished in 1992, leaving a hot meal on the table, hopes an increased reward may finally solve the mystery of her disappearance and suspected murder.

Homicide squad detectives yesterday announced that the reward for information leading to a conviction had jumped from $100,000 to $500,000.

Schoolgirl Prudence Bird, known as Prue, disappeared from her home in Justin Avenue, Glenroy, about 2.10pm on February 2, 1992.

Her mother, Jenny, said the past 16 years had been "the cruellest". "It's like carrying a bag of bricks around with you every day of your life," she said.

Ms Bird last spoke to Prue the night before her disappearance. After looking in on her sleeping daughter the next morning, she left for the day.

A female friend living at the house last saw Prue preparing lunch and taking a call from a teenage boy.

When the woman later returned from the garage, the front door was open, the television was on and a hot meal sat uneaten. Prue has not been seen since.

Police have investigated numerous avenues of inquiry in the past 16 years — including her grandmother's de facto husband Paul Kurt Hetzel. In 1999, The Age reported that Hetzel, a career criminal, had lived under witness protection after testifying against three associates convicted over the Russell Street bombing and armed robberies.

In 1991, Prue, apparently resenting her mother's relationship with the woman who lived at their house, went to stay with her grandmother and Hetzel near Kalgoorlie.

She later returned, telling her mother: "I don't want to go back — he's nuts."

Prue also knew a man called Stanley Taylor, an old jailmate of Hetzel's. The Age reported in 1999 that when Prue was seven, Taylor handcuffed her to a naked boy her own age in a shower.

Ms Bird said she was under no illusions her feisty daughter, who was in year 8 at Glenroy High School, was still alive.

"I don't live in a fairyland, I knew the day Prue went missing that whatever it was, (it) was going to be terrible," she said.

Detective Inspector Steve Clarke said police did not have "any information to suggest the disappearance is linked to the Russell Street bombings", and no specific information there was any link to the grandparents.

"I have no clue, I wish I knew," Ms Bird said, adding that she had cut all ties with her extended family. She said she missed Prue, who would now be 30, every day of her life. "I think, would she be married, would she have children? I miss everything about her, I miss her smell, her touch, I miss everything."

Homicide squad detective inspector Steve Clark said: "It is as though she simply disappeared off the face of the earth."

Ms Bird urged the public to provide any information, no matter how insignificant. The Office of Public Prosecutions will consider waiving charges against any person who gives information.

Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or see www.crimestoppers.com.au.