THE CONSTANT PAIN OF NEVER KNOWING
FAMILIES AND POLICE HOLD ON TO HOPE THEY WILL DISCOVER WHAT BECAME OF THESE MISSING PERSONS OF THE FAR NORTH
THESE are the mysterious cases in regional towns where people have vanished without a trace, leaving both families and communities heartbroken and searching for answers.
Although time may have passed between the forlorn mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends who have disappeared without warning in unsolved and suspicious circumstances, police continue to run down leads, believing there are people out there with information capable of unlocking some of the Far North’s most baffling cases.
Acting Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said communities from Cassowary Coast to Cape York and west to Atherton and Julatten were still hurting knowing they were connected to these mysteries.
“Clearly the communities in Far North Queensland are tight knit, and when there is a person who goes missing and that case remains unexplained, it is greatly felt,” he said. “Any unexplained disappearance obviously has compounding effects on the immediate and extended families of those who disappeared, and vicariously through the communities where they lived.”
Inspector Goan said there was “no doubt” some people had been harbouring secrets that could lead to a break in several unsolved cases. “We do recognise there can be a reluctance to engage with police regarding these matters, particularly if there is a sense held that there may be reprisals for them reaching out to police,” he said.
“Where there has been some separation between the disappearance because of time, people’s circumstances change, or the fear of reprisal abates, we see that people will either come forward to clear their own conscience, or in the greater community interest.
“So some people can and do reach out to police and tell us what they know eventually.”
One of the most baffling missing person’s cases is that of Julatten man Reece Kearney.
The keen fisherman disappeared without a trace before Christmas in 2017, last seen on a Julatten street. Almost two months later, his abandoned motorcycle was found at the Telstra tower on the Newcastle Range, about 20km east of Georgetown.
His father, Ron, lives everyday with the heartache of not knowing what happened to his son, who was suffering from a medical condition. He and his family have never given up, even conducting another search with SES volunteers and police last year around the area his motorcycle was found.
“We went there for a couple of days while the grass was all burnt, but it was no good,” Mr Kearney said.
“The poor boy needed help. We tried but he disappeared. Denise takes it hard.
“We’ve still got his fishing boat here, he was a mad fisherman.”
Inspector Goan said there were wide and varied reasons why people go missing every year across the country.
“It could be personal pressures, not coping with home life, de-escalation of mental health or the actual involvement of foul play,” he said. Enhancements in technology and special investigative techniques also ensured no cold case was ever closed.
“We remain vigilant, and we review all missing persons regularly,” Acting Inspector Goan said. “Where appropriate we review the actions that have been taken to locate them, and also where possible consider the use of other technologies.”
Below are eight missing persons cases that still plague regional communities:
REECE KEARNEY
Missing since: Thursday, December 21, 2017. Last seen: Julatten.
Current age: 29.
Reece Kearney went missing just before Christmas 2017, when he was 26.
The keen fisherman, was last seen on Highland Drive in Julatten after attending a funeral of a close friend. Police believe Mr Kearney was in a distressed and agitated state before his disappearance.
On February 8, 2018, his motorcycle was found at the Telstra tower on the Newcastle Range, about 20km east of Georgetown.
JAYDEN PENNO-TOMPSETT
Missing since: Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Last seen: Charters Towers.
Current age: 25.
The then 22-year-old was travelling from Newcastle to Cairns with a friend, Lucas Tattersall, to celebrate New Year’s Eve in December 2017. After an argument Mr Penno-Tompsett got out of the car and was last seen early on December 31 near Charters Towers. Mr Penno-Tompsett’s mother, Rachel Penno, maintains her son may have been murdered due to drug debts.
Coroner Nerida Wilson concluded he had perished in the hot conditions – which peaked about 40C – some time between the day he vanished and when he was eventually reported missing on January 3, 2018.
ALEXANDRA GOWING
Missing since: May 29, 2004.
Last seen: Cairns.
Description: 170cm, slim build, brown hair, brown eyes, fair complexion.
Alexandra was born in 1954 and would now be 66, but would have been 50 when she vanished in Cairns in 2004. At the time she was wearing a faded one-piece dress in green colour with floral pattern. She also had a scar above the left eye and a tattoo of a dove carrying a fig leaf on the left side of her shoulder blade.
ALLISON BERNARD
Missing Since: February 10, 2013.
Last Seen: Archer River.
Description: 155cm, slim build, brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion.
The eight-year mystery behind young mum of two Allison’s death is set to become the subject of a coronial inquest in Cairns, following an intense campaign by her distraught family for answers.
“Any unexplained disappearance obviously has compounding effects on the immediate and extended families of those who disappeared and vicariously through the communities where they lived.” Acting Detective Inspector Kevin Goan
The then 23-year-old was last seen at the Archer River quarry where she had travelled with the caretaker, Thomas Byrne, who she had met earlier that day, for a sexual encounter. During a pre-inquest hearing in February, the court heard she vanished sometime during the night. A large-scale police search found no trace.
FREDERICK BAMBOO
Missing Since: June 1, 1995.
Last Seen: Palm Island.
Description: 165cm, thin build, black hair, brown eyes, dark complexion.
Frederick, who would now be 71, was living
in Mossman when he travelled to Palm Island in 1995 to attend a family funeral. He has not made contact with family, friends or associates since and not been located despite extensive inquiries.
KATIE O’SHEA
Missing Since: December 29, 2005.
Last Seen: Atherton.
Description: 171cm, slim build, dark hair, green eyes, tanned complexion.
Kathleen, or Katie, O’Shea had come to the Tablelands in late 2005 to await the birth of her first grandchild. The mum of five went to play pool at an Atherton pub and was not
seen again. At an inquest in 2014, Coroner Jane Bentley ruled her death was caused by “unknown person or persons” and her body hidden. Convicted sex offender Frank Wark has been named as a “person of interest” in her disappearance. Katie would be 59 now.
MARTIN FRODSHAM
Missing Since: July 1, 2012.
Last Seen: Cairns.
Description: 169cm, medium build, brown hair, green eyes, fair complexion.
Martin travelled from Western Australia to Brisbane in June 2012 as a 44-year-old with the intention of looking for work in the
Gladstone area. He was last seen in the Cairns and Cooktown areas the following month.
He would be 53 now.
MICHAEL LORENZ-SCHRADER
Missing Since: August 21, 1996.
Last Seen: Gordonvale.
Description: 185cm tall, solid build, black hair, brown eyes, olive complexion.
Michael was known as “Adrian” to close family and friends and was believed to be planning to travel to the Northern Territory via western Queensland. He has not been seen since. He was aged 33 at the time and would now be aged 57.