Widow wants closure

Schuler’s body still missing six years later

THE widow of murdered prospector Bruce Schuler has spent the past six years clinging to hope that his remains will be found.

“Where is he? Why isn’t he here? They are never-ending questions,” Fiona Splitt said.

On July 9, 2012, the 48year-old (right) went missing while prospecting on Palmerville Station in Cape York.

Landowners Stephen Struber and Dianne Wilson-Struber were convicted of his murder in 2015 and, despite numerous appeals, they remain in jail.

“I know in my head what has happened but in my heart, because there’s been no closure, I’m still half-expecting him to walk through the door,” Ms Splitt said.

Last week her hopes were raised after police received a report about possible human remains at the bottom of a mine shaft about 15km from Palmerville station.

Detective Sergeant Brad McLeish said a miner had lowered a Go Pro camera to the bottom of the shaft and seen what looked like a human skull. However, after searching the site, nothing was found.

“You do get your hopes up but I’d rather have a bit of hope than no hope, if it means bringing Bruce home,” she said.

Police have had no help from his killers despite the “no body, no parole” laws, which Ms Splitt fought for, now being in place.

“I’ve looked both of them in the eye and said, you will die in jail unless you tell us where the body of Bruce Schuler is, and they just flat-out refuse,” Sgt McLeish said.

“Struber just looks cold and dead in the eyes and repeats, no comment, no comment, no comment.”

Sgt McLeish said the search for Mr Schuler’s body would never end and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

Ms Splitt believes the grazier couple shot her husband and dumped his body.

“The worst horror scene movie you’ve ever seen, they’re characters out of that,” she said.

She last saw Mr Schuler nine days before he went missing. “If I’m not thinking about him, I’m talking about him. But it hasn’t gotten easier, it’s gotten worse,” she said. “I still haven’t been issued a death certificate so I can’t do anything with the properties we have. I just wish they’d come forward and tell me where he is so we can put him to rest.”

She urges anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact police.