Who murdered Marilyn? Police reopen 44-year-old cold case

Greven Breadsell, who found the piece of Marilyn Wallman's skull, was at the site today to help identify the exact location where it was found

THE morning of March 15, 2016 Greven Breadsell was called to the site where he found a piece of Marilyn Wallman's skull in 1974.

Mr Breadsell was in his early 20s when he found the skull, but DNA did not confirm it was Marilyn's until January last year.

Police wanted help finding the location of an abandoned rubbish dump on the Mirani-Mt Ossa Rd where he had found the bone fragment.

"There was a dump there, an illegal dump. The skull was only 20-30m away from there," Mr Breadsell says. "They'd already found it (the dump) when I got there. You could look down the holes (police had dug) and see the rubbish."

He said the thought he had handled her skull still gave him goosebumps.

But he said the confirmation last year gave him hope technology would continue to evolve to a stage where the mystery surrounding Marilyn's disappearance would one day be solved.

"It will be revealed as time goes on," he said.

Greven Breadsell speaks about Marilyn Wallman case

Earlier 2.16pm

Detective Dave Tucker says police are mapping the site with new technology for their records. Geologists and scientists are helping police work out the depth of the soil profile from 1972.

"If this gives us a new line of enquiry then that's great," Det Tucker said.

"But the view is so that if we ever need (this information), we've got it."

He wasn't sure how well the area had been searched back in 1972, but explained technology had evolved considerably since then.

But he reiterated there had been no development in the case.

Police test soil in relation to Marilyn Wallman case

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Earlier 12.15pm

THE dig near McGregor Ck has brought back memories for people who remember the time when Marilyn Wallman disappeared.  

Mia Mia's Dick Hall said at the time it affected the whole community. His brother-in-law detective inspector John Youngberry put "1000s of hours" into the case. 

Video: Dick Hall speaks to the Daily Mercury

Initial 10.30am

POLICE  have been 'digging for days' at the site where Marilyn Wallman's skull fragment was previously found.

A CIB spokesman said police and scientific officers are at a property on Mirani-Mount Ossa Rd near McGregor Ck.

He said they're just past the creek and officers are taking soil samples.

In January 2015 it was confirmed a skull fragment found on private property near Mirani in October 1974 was that of the missing Mackay teenager. 

The North Mackay High School student was last seen leaving her Eimeo property on March 21, 1972.

On the morning Marilyn went missing her brothers Rex and David were only minutes behind her on their way to school.  

"We found Marilyn's bike on the side of the road. I was left there waiting while David went home to get mum and I heard voices and noises down in the cane field," he said.  

Mr Wallman said in January 2015, it "drives us nuts" that there could be someone out there with vital information about the case, who has yet to come forward.  

"That's what we need. That last piece of evidence. That last little piece of the jigsaw. We need someone to come forward," he said.  

Police are expected to release further details on the latest steps in the investigation.  

The Daily Mercury will update this story when that information is available.

Marilyn Wallman

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Originally published as Who murdered Marilyn? Police reopen 44-year-old cold case