Chantal Barnett, Scott Moulder, Michelle Lewis still missing from Rockhampton on National Missing Persons Week
They’re Central Queensland’s cherished children, parents, friends and family members and they all have something in common. They’ve never been found.
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Anne Richardson, John Farlow, Martin Frodsham, Scott Moulder, Jason Vance, Chantal Barnett, Michelle Lewis, Clifford Hemsworth, Francis Patrick Foley, Robert Deric Grayson, Derek Wade Van Derpoel, Graham Lines, Bradley Kerrisk and Beryl Beyers.
To some, these are just names – but to others they are cherished sons, daughters, husbands, wives, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters.
And the one thing they all have in common is they haven’t been seen or heard from in some time – with many of them feared dead.
National Missing Persons Week was established in 1988 by the Jones family after Townsville man Tony Jones disappeared in 1982. .
Currently, there are 14 people from the Central Queensland area who are missing and dearly missed by their loved ones who are still looking for answers and closure.
Some for decades.
One of those people is Michelle Lewis who disappeared from Rockhampton in 1989 at the age of 21.
She was last seen alive riding her bike about 10.45pm on January 14 after leaving a friend’s house on Stenlake Avenue.
Michelle intended on riding a short distance to her home on Alexandra St, but she never arrived and neither she or her bike have ever been found.
On Tuesday during NMPW police announced a new $500,000 reward for information into Michelle’s disappearance in the hope it would generate new leads.
The award from the State Government is for information that leads to the conviction of the person, or persons, found to be responsible for Michelle’s suspected murder.
Former lead investigator and retired Detective Ann Gumley said she was hopeful the renewed focus and reward announcement would lead to a breakthrough in the case.
“I spent a lot of my time as a Rockhampton police officer searching for Michelle and I still remain committed to seeking justice for her,” Detective Gumley said.
“Michelle’s family and friends deserve answers, so if you know something, please come forward.”
Police reviewed Michelle’s disappearance in 1999 as a possible victim of serial killer and rapist Leonard John Fraser but were unable to link her to him.
Fraser died in prison in 2007 after being convicted of the 1999 abduction, rape and murder of nine-year-old Keyra Steinhardt and the murders of Rockhampton women Beverley Leggo and Sylvia Benedetti and the manslaughter of Julie Turner.
QPS Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said the Homicide Cold Case Investigation Unit started re-examining Michelle’s case last year and believed the case could be solved.
“Despite extensive investigations at the time and since, Michelle has never been located, nor has her bike, and police now strongly suspect she was murdered around the time she disappeared,” she said.
“We believe there are people out there with information and with this significant reward announced, now is the time for those people to reconsider 33 years of silence and come forward to police.”
Anyone who has seen or has information on the welfare or whereabouts of Michelle or any of the people listed below are urged to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anne Richardson
Anne Maree Richardson was last seen in Rockhampton in August 2011.
It is believed she travelled to Rockhampton to visit family but she has not been seen of heard from since.
She would be 48 years old today.
She has a large extended family, all of whom are extremely concerned for her welfare.
Anne is described as being 140cm in height with black hair and brown eyes with a dark complexion.
John Farlow
John Farlow, who was living on an old mining lease in Anakie, has been missing since November 1, 1996.
He was last seen in Yeppoon and has not made contact with family or friends since the last time he was seen.
John was known to walk long distances and his residence was deserted.
He would be 89 years old today.
He’s described as having a tanned complexion, hazel eyes and a slim build with grey hair.
Martin Frodsham
Martin Frodsham was last seen in the Cairns and Cooktown areas in July 2012, but had intentions of seeking work in the Gladstone area.
He would be 54 years old today and is described as being 169cm tall with a medium build.
Martin also has brown hair, green eyes and a fair complexion.
Scott Moulder
Rockhampton man Scott Moulder has not been seen since he left a home on German Street on the afternoon of March 22 in 2019.
He was last seen on the day of his disappearance on CCTV footage in a supermarket.
Scott has not been seen or heard from since.
Scott would be 49 years old today and is described as being 190cm tall with a slim build, fair complexion, bleached blonde hair and hazel eyes.
Jason Vance
Jason Vance was last seen on October 24, 2013 in the Barakula State Forest near Chinchilla where he was camping with friends.
It is believed the then 41-year-old walked off into the forest but did not return.
In November 2019 a $250,000 reward for information to help local Jason was announced.
After Jason disappeared and extensive land and air search was conducted by police and the SES.
In 2019, then South West District Detective Inspector Mat Kelly said it was hoped the reward and indemnity would create the opportunity for someone to come forward and provide police with crucial information.
Jason was known to have associations with various people in the Gold Coast, Rockhampton and Dalby areas.
A coronial inquest in 2017 determined Jason was deceased with the cause of death being unknown.
Chantal Barnett
Chantal Barnett and Robert Martinez were both last seen alive in March 2013.
Robert’s remains were found in October 2014, but the remains of Chantal have never been found.
Chantal’s handbag was handed in to police that same month.
Inside the handbag was cash, ladies underpants, a capped syringe, a wallet, a pair of sunglasses, a USB stick and a cigarette lighter.
Police checks of the cards in the wallet revealed the bag belonged to Chantal.
In February 2016 Daniel George Hong and Ian Robert Armstrong were each charged over the disappearance and deaths of Chantal and Robert.
Their matters went to trial in 2018 but in a surprise move the pair pleaded guilty to interfering with a corpse and the charges of murder were dropped.
Hong was sentenced to two years, with 937 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time served, with immediate unconditional release.
Armstrong was sentenced to 378 days of prison, which had already been served in pre-sentence custody, with an immediate unconditional release.
As the pair was being sentenced Justice Graeme Crow pleaded with the men to reveal where Chantal’s body was.
Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis disappeared from Rockhampton in 1989 at the age of 21.
She was last seen alive riding her bike about 10.45pm on January 14 after leaving a friend’s house on Stenlake Avenue.
Michelle intended on riding a short distance to her home on Alexandra St, but she never arrived and neither she nor her bike have ever been found.
A reward of $500,000 was recently announced for any information that leads to the conviction of the person, or persons, found to be responsible for Michelle’s suspected murder.
Clifford “Cliffy” Harmsworth
Clifford Harmsworth has been missing since December 2, 1986.
He was just 22.
Clifford, or Cliffy as he was known to those close to him, left his brother Jerry’s house, on the corner of Berserker and Rodboro streets, at 7.15pm and only had to walk a short distance to his parents’ house in Mostyn Street.
He left his wallet and passport behind and had no money on him when he left his brother’s house.
Clifford had returned from New Zealand and decided to go back to school and get his Senior Certificate.
He is described as being 178cm tall with a slim build, having red/blonde hair and blue eyes.
Francis “Frank” Patrick Foley
Frank Foley was reported missing on Christmas Eve in 2008.
Frank was the caretaker of a designated fossicking area at Reward, near Rubyvale, at the time of his disappearance.
He was last seen on December 23, 2008 doing his grocery shopping in Emerald and Rubyvale.
In 2010 it was reported gunshots had been heard in the vicinity of Frank’s cabin and forensic tests had confirmed a weapon had been discharged at Frank’s residence.
Police searched local waterways and dams in the area, however no trace of Frank has been found.
Robert Deric Grayson and Derek Wade Van Derpoel
Robert Grayson and Derek Van Depoel were both reported missing in 1994, about a year after the pair was last seen alive.
Robert, who was 26 at the time, was reported missing to Gladstone Police on August 8 1994, while Derek, who was 23, was reported missing on September 2 that same year to Calliope Police.
At the time of their disappearance the pair were involved in share-cropping in the Kroombit Ranges and it was “strongly suspected” they met with foul play.
In March 2018 police reached a breakthrough in the cold case charging Rosedale man Russell Williams with their alleged murder.
However on May 15, 2018 Williams was found dead in his jail cell at the Capricornia Correctional Centre.
Despite searches conducted in the Kroombit Tops National Park, the last known location of both Robert and Derek, their bodies have never been found.
Graham Lines
Graham Lines was last seen on Great Keppel Island in April 1987.
He had been staying on the island as a guest and was last seen about midday on April 5, 1987 at the Wreck Bar.
Graham failed to appear for his departing flight from the island on April 7.
He is described as 172cm tall with a proportionate build, brown hair and green eyes.
Bradley Kerrisk
Bradley Kerrisk has been missing since June 1983.
Bradley, who was 34 at the time he vanished, was last seen about 9.05pm on June 24 when he got into his car at the Callaghan Park racecourse.
The car was a Ford Telstar sedan with the registration 991 OQC.
His car was later found outside the Balmoral Hotel, which is now known as the Archer Hotel.
Police believe Bradley may have been murdered.
To this date he has not been found and a $250,000 reward is on offer for anyone with information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Bradley.
Beryl Beyers
Beryl Beyers,68, from Mount Morgan has been missing since January 11, 2001.
Beryl was last seen walking her dog Lady at the entrance to the Mount Morgan Gold Mine, something she did most mornings with her husband Jim.
But on that day he slept in.
Despite a huge search, Beryl was not found and is still missing to this day.
There were theories that Beryl may have been abducted or even may have fallen into an old mine shaft.
However in a Morning Bulletin article from 2017, Beryl’s husband Jim said she had been receiving treatment for depression saying sometimes she felt like “crawling into a hollow log”.
“Perhaps she did find some place to hide and blocked the entrance,” he said.
Jim also told The Morning Bulletin Beryl had wandered away twice before, but “snapped out” of what appeared to have been a kind of hallucination.
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