Top cop’s theory about Melissa Caddick’s fate revealed

Police have revealed their theory about what happened when Melissa Caddick walked out the front door of her Sydney mansion in November 2020 for the last time.

The senior cop in charge of the Melissa Caddick investigation believes the missing fraudster killed herself by jumping from the cliffs near her Sydney eastern suburbs mansion just hours after her house of cards came tumbling down, an inquest has heard.

The 49-year-old’s mysterious disappearance is the subject of a coronial inquest which was due to conclude on Tuesday, however will now go to another day of evidence in February next year.

Caddick was last heard walking out the front door of her Dover Heights home on the morning of November 12, 2020.

A foot, which was later DNA matched to Caddick, was found washed up on a NSW south coast beach in February 2021 – the only credible lead as to her fate.

But police also investigated theories she had gone on the run – after the AFP and ASIC raided her home and business on November 11 – or that she had been kidnapped or murdered.

She is accused of ripping off between $20m to $30m from investors through her financial services business Maliver.

The court has heard she was not reported missing by her husband Anthony Koletti until November 13 – 30 hours after she had gone missing. Mr Koletti is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Ms Caddick’s actions or death.

Melissa Caddick was last seen in November 2020. Picture: Andy Baker

Melissa Caddick and husband Anthony Koletti. Picture: Facebook

Detective Sergeant Michael Foscholo was appointed the officer in charge of the high-profile investigation on November 23 – just under two weeks after she was last seen.

The inquest before deputy state coroner Elizabeth Ryan has raised questions about the investigation and the allocation of police resources.

Sergeant Foscholo told the court his officers had to pore over mountains of CCTV footage, as well as follow up tips from the public about alleged sightings, all of which turned out to be unfruitful.

He also said he reviewed information from an Uber account, which was at one point linked to Caddick, but which ultimately turned out to be a “red herring”.

Under questioning from counsel assisting the coroner Jason Downing on Tuesday, Sergeant Foscholo told the court he came to the conclusion that Caddick had jumped from the cliffs at Rodney Reserve just after leaving her house at 5.30am on November 12, 2020.

“Unfortunately, yes,” he said.

He told the court his theory was she left her home shortly after 5.30am, about 15 minutes before sunrise, when she was heard walking out her front door.

Police believe that in low morning light, she turned left out of her Wallangra Rd home and then turned right onto Dover Rd.

The court heard there were not any CCTV cameras on her most direct route to Rodney Reserve and she had not shown up on any footage viewed by officers.

Detective Sergeant Michael Foscholo was the officer in charge of the investigation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker.

Anthony Koletti with Detective Inspector Gretchen Atkins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Joel Carrett

Sergeant Foscholo was asked by solicitor Judy Swan, who is representing Mr Koletti, “have you heard the expression someone died of shame?”

Sergeant Foscholo said he was not a qualified psychiatrist, but believed the ASIC investigation was one of the catalysts for Caddick dying by suicide.

The inquest also heard that at a meeting with other police on February 15, 2021 – a week before Caddick’s foot was discovered – Sergeant Foscholo expressed he was “struggling” with resources and that only 20 per cent of the CCTV obtained during a canvas had been reviewed.

Detective Inspector Gretchen Atkins, the crime manager of the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, said she assigned some officers, who were at the time injured, to assist with reviewing CCTV.

Sergeant Foscholo said at that point while only 20 per cent of the footage had been completely viewed, another 20 to 30 per cent was in the process of being finalised and the rest was considered a low level of interest.

The inquest was due to conclude on Tuesday.

However, the court heard that Detective Chief Inspector Glen Browne, the former head of the NSW Police missing persons registry, would be recalled for further evidence in February.

Ms Swan also asked if evidence could be led from a forensic expert on feet.

She earlier questioned Sergeant Foscholo whether he believed the foot which washed up on Bournda Beach had been chewed on by a shark after the bones inside had been “shattered”.

Sergeant Foscholo said he had no evidence or information about any shark bite marks.

Originally published as Top cop’s theory about Melissa Caddick’s fate revealed