Sutherland Shire, St George: 9 missing people and a search for answers
A pharmacist who was a beloved mother and wife, an anxiety and phobia coach, and two teenage girls rooming together in a caravan park are among missing people from Sydney’s south whose families are still searching for them.
St George Shire Standard
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Families across the Sutherland Shire and St George are still waiting for answers about loved ones who have gone missing – and were never seen or heard from again.
These are the people – beloved wives and mothers, husbands and fathers, siblings, friends and family – who vanished without a trace, and for whom those that loved them are still seeking answers.
MADELINE BIGATTON
Carss Park wife and mother Madeline Bigatton, 48, was last seen on March 25, 2018 after dropping her daughter at a friend’s house.
Her car was seen at Cape Solander near Kurnell the following day and there have been no confirmed sightings of her since.
Ms Bigatton had been listed as a co-defendant in the Australian Federal Police’s case against her and her husband John after his bitcoin company collapsed, allegedly leaving several investors almost $4 billion out of pocket.
John Bigatton told the Supreme Court in April he believed his wife was dead.
MORGAN RAE
Sydney phobia and anxiety coach Morgan Rae, 31, was last seen leaving a friend’s unit on the Kingsway in Caringbah before attending an appointment in Gymea on the morning of January 31 this year.
Later that day, police believe he boarded a ferry at Cronulla Wharf and travelled to Bundeena Wharf, where he walked into bushland at the start of the Coast Track in the Royal National Park at Bundeena.
He was reported missing to officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command on February 2, who commenced an investigation into his whereabouts.
Police and family hold serious concerns for Morgan’s welfare as he has not been seen or heard from since January.
Land and air searches were conducted on February 11 with assistance from Police Rescue and Polair, but Morgan was not located.
He is known to frequent local areas in the Sutherland Shire including Caringbah, Gymea and Cronulla, as well as Surry Hills.
ELAINE JOHNSON + KERRY JOEL
Two teenage girls are at the centre of one of Australia’s most enduring and sinister mysteries after they disappeared from the Sutherland Shire in 1980.
On February 1 1980, Elaine Johnson left her home in Kurnell and has not been seen by family and friends since then.
Elaine is believed to have met with her friend Kerry Joel, who also went missing on the same day from her Caringbah home.
Both Elaine and Kerry were reported missing in February 1980 and the pair were thought to be living together at Woronora Caravan Park after falling out with their parents.
In 2016 deputy state coroner Mary Jerram told family members the cases would be referred to the homicide squad.
“I think we have to assume there must have been foul play,” Ms Jerram said.
A friend told the coronial inquest she last saw the pair in what she thought was 1979, on the day Kerry crashed her mother’s car and left it in the garage.
The friend said she went to an arcade with the girls but left them to walk home.
Kerry, who may have been pregnant, was known to hitchhike as far afield as Wyong on the NSW Central Coast.
NICK VELJANOVSKI
A family is desperate for information about their son, who disappeared from a Sydney national park in 2014.
An inquest heard Nikolce “Nick” Veljanovski went missing from Bundeena on June 11, 2014 after he drove into the Royal National Park in Bundeena.
The Bankstown man was in a long-term relationship with his former Kmart co-worker Amanda Wales, and the coronial inquest heard the two had a difficult conversation while he was in the park.
“Ms Wales asked Nick why he was there and asked, ‘Is your head in a bad way?’ – Nick replied that it was,” the coroner’s report stated.
“Ms Wales … asked whether money was the issue. When Nick answered yes, Ms Wales asked whether he had lost it all by gambling. Again, Nick answered yes.”
The coronial inquest ultimately determined Nick had accumulated debts totalling more than $38,000 to several financial institutions, and he owed the Office of State Revenue $6000.
Nick’s Honda Jazz was found near bushland shortly after his disappearance during extensive searches for him and the coroner subsequently found Nick died on or sometime after June 11, 2014 with the location, manner and cause of death being unknown.
STEPHEN MITCHELL
A coronial inquest has pronounced a missing Mortdale man dead – but the coroner heard his family is still desperate to find him someday.
Stephen Mitchell would be 48 now – but he has not been seen or heard from since March 20, 2007 when he left his sister’s home in Peakhurst after watching a rugby league game.
“There are grave concerns for Stephen and after exhaustive inquires by his family and Police, no trace of him can be found,” a NSW Police statement read.
RAM CHANDRA KHADKA
Police have grave concerns for a man who has been missing since September 10, 2018 after leaving his home on foot in Sydney’s south.
Ram Chandra Khadka, 47, was last seen at 5.45pm on September 10 after he left his home on Bestic St in Rockdale on foot.
Police and his family hold serious concerns for his welfare.
Mr Khadka is described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, 170cm tall and thin.
He was last seen wearing a black short-sleeved jacket, an orange and black striped shirt, black long pants and brown striped boots.
Anyone who sees Mr Khadka or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact St George police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
IRIS BRAIDWOOD
English grandmother and mother Iris Rita Braidwood was last seen on March 26, 2003 after she was dropped at Cronulla Mall by a family member to go shopping.
Iris did not return to be picked up as planned.
Iris was due to return to the United Kingdom after a short stay visiting family in Australia, but she has not been seen or in contact with family since this time, nor returned overseas.
Iris would now be 93 and her family told a coronial inquest they believed she had probably drowned at the nearby beach.
ZORAN KOSTANTINOVIC
Cronulla dad Zoran Kostantinovic has not been seen or heard from since he left his home he shared with his girlfriend and young child 20 years ago.
Zoran was last seen leaving his Cronulla home on September 24, 2000 in his red Ford Laser.
The car was located in Canley Vale several days later and subsequent investigations by Fairfield police uncovered no trace of Zoran.
Anyone with information that may assist police to locate Zoran is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.