Answers for Marilyn Wallman case after years of waiting

THE disappearance of Marilyn Wallman has been Queensland’s longest running child abduction case.

Marilyn Wallman’s parents, Daphne and John Wallman, Queensland Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon, Marilyn’s brothers Rex and David Wallman, and sister Lenore Flynn at the press conference to confirm that skull fragments found in 1974 are those of Marilyn. Picture: Lee Constable

THE disappearance of Marilyn Wallman has been Queensland's longest running child abduction case.

She vanished without a trace on March 21 in 1972.

Her family has had an anguished wait for answers.

It was only yesterday police were able to reveal a skull fragment found on cattle property near Mirani in late 1974, 40 kilometres from where she was kidnapped, was that of the murdered 14-year-old.

The piece has been examined and re-examined by experts over the years.

A plaque was laid and a small tree planted in honour of Marilyn Wallman by her 1972 Mackay North High School classmates. Picture: Lee Constable

"You would appreciate in the 70s, 80s and early 90s there was no such thing as DNA technology," Queensland Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon said yesterday at a media conference held in Mackay.

Breakthrough DNA testing at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, identified a link between the piece and Marilyn's mother Daphne Wallman.

"The mitochondrial DNA is a conclusive process. However, it was the feeling of the investigators and also the concern of the (Central) Coroner that we needed to find other corroborative evidence to bring it together," Mr Condon said.

Further tests in New Zealand and Queensland did just that.

Mr Condon said police carried out further testing on some items that belonged to Marilyn and items that belonged to the Wallman family.

Police put the information to Coroner David O'Connell, who determined the partial skull was that of Marilyn.

Her parents, Daphne and John Wallman, and siblings Rex and David Wallman and Lenore Flynn were present when the announcement was made.

"The police have since released the remains back to the Wallman family," Mr Condon said.

Leads

Police have followed a number of leads in the 43 years since Marilyn vanished, but this is certainly a very important part of the jigsaw.

In February last year police dug up a Bassett St backyard after receiving information that brought the address to police attention. Mr Condon said the search "didn't illicit and evidence to take the investigation further and that part of the investigation has been finalised".

 

What's Next

This was an important milestone for the Wallman family, but it wasn't the end.

"Even 43 years down the track there are people out there alive today that will know something about the disappearance of Marilyn Wallman and her murder," Mr Condon said.

"The media play a very important role in keeping these types of investigations alive in the community.

"We're hopeful that new information will come in as a result of (this announcement)."

Vital Clue

GREVEN Breadsell can still remember the day he came across a small piece of skull, which was identified as that of Marilyn Wallman 41 years later.

The Mirani man said he had gone into bushland next to the McGregor Creek bridge, near Mirani, in late 1974 with a woman to collect palm fronds for his mother to use to shelter her orchids from the sun.

It was about 50 metres back from McGregor Creek, Mr Breadsell said.

He said he'd revisited the site several times since finding the skull.

"It's a long time ago... (but) I still remember," he said.

"It was just sitting on top of the grass. We just walked straight on it."

 

If you have any information relating to the disappearance and murder of Marilyn Wallman, police encourage you to ring Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Answers for Marilyn Wallman case after years of waiting