Coroner makes finding
Death of missing Lockyer Valley man ruled a suicide
‘‘ ONE WONDERS IF DARRELL’S BODY WAS FOUND DURING THE FIRST POLICE SEARCH, WHETHER SUCH UNHELPFUL, CLEARLY DEFAMATORY AND UNTRUTHFUL SPECULATION WOULD HAVE EVEN SURFACED.
CORONER JOHN LOCK
A CORONER has ruled out suspicious circumstances in the death of Laidley man Darrell Gene Simon - ruling he died as a result of suicide.
The findings come with a number of recommendations for police four months on from an inquest in Toowoomba last year that examined the case.
The inquest was sparked after Mr Simon went missing in 2014, kissing his partner goodbye before a bike ride, only never to be seen again.
His remains were found on his Lockyer Valley property 18 months later.
Deputy State Coroner John Lock found that allegations of third party involvement in the 48-year-old’s death submitted by the family of Mr Simon to be unsubstantiated.
“Lawrence Simon (Darrell’s father) has raised concerns with both police and the Coroners Court that his son’s death may be suspicious and that he may have been harmed by someone else, possibly in a dispute over money,” he said.
Coroner Lock, who issued a number of suppression orders during the week-long inquest in Toowoomba last September, said rumours and speculation surrounding foul play in the period of Mr Simon’s disappearance were not backed by credible evidence.
The findings also detailed a number of recommendations after it was revealed only half of the property where Darrell Simon’s remains were eventually found on was searched during the initial investigation.
“One wonders if Darrell’s body was found during the first police search on 23 November 2014, whether such unhelpful and at times clearly defamatory and untruthful speculation would have even surfaced,” he said.
Coroner Lock found Darrell Simon committed suicide as a result of “financial stressors” to which a number of witnesses gave evidence.
The inquest heard Mr Simon was on the verge of losing his property as a result of foreclosure prior to his death.
The recommendations made by the coroner included improved communication between police and SES during missing persons searches and improved mapping by police in investigating disappearances.