Call for suspected murder victim Leanne Goodall’s case to be reopened

The family of a missing woman have called for her case to be reopened after police delving into the similar disappearances of two other Lake Macquarie girls uncovered a fresh person of interest.

Pam Mitchell, at home in Edgeworth, near Newcastle. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

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The family of suspected murder victim Leanne Goodall has pleaded for her case to be reopened following revelations that a strike force delving into the similar disappearances of two other Lake Macquarie girls had uncovered a fresh person of interest.

Lake Macquarie girl Leanne Goodall, went missing age 20 on the December 30, 1978.

Ms Goodall, 20, vanished on December 30, 1978 - four months before Amanda Robinson, 14, and Robyn Hickie, 18, were last seen within a fortnight of each other the following April.

Investigations had linked the three suspected murders for more than 20 years and prompted then State Coroner John Abernethy to suggest in 2002 that they all could have been victims of backpacker killer Ivan Milat, who was working in the area at the time of the disappearances.

But a fresh police strike force has now identified a new person on interest in the cases of Miss Robinson and Ms Hickie while baulking at Ms Goodall’s case being linked.

Siblings in happier times: Malcolm, Warren, Pam, Brian, Leanne and Rod with their dog Lassie as children. Picture: supplied

“There was police neglect when Leanne first went missing 40 years ago and it feels her case is being neglected again,’’ sister Pam Mitchell said.

“All these girls were from the same area of Lake Macquarie. They all occurred within a few months. They should all be reinvestigated.’’

Strike Force Arapaima, comprising four Lake Macquarie detectives, was set up earlier this year to reinvestigate the Robinson and Hickey disappearances as well as that of Gordana Kotevski, who was snatched from a Charlestown street in 1994.

Ivan Milat, had been linked ot a number of missing women in the Lake Macquarie area. Picture: supplied

Beth Leen, with a doll that was once the treasured toy of her daughter Leanne Goodall who went missing from the Newcastle area aged 20 in 1978. Picture: News Corp

It is understood detectives were reluctant to include the Goodall disappearance in Strike Force Arapaima because there was no evidence she had returned to Lake Macquarie.

Ms Goodall is believed to have caught a train from Muswellbrook to Newcastle on December 30, with acquaintances reporting to have seen her at the Star Hotel, which is in the Newcastle City police district.

Newcastle City detectives also do not have an active investigation into Ms Goodall’s case.

“There is a big chance she had got a lift to go home to Lake Macquarie,’’ Ms Mitchell said.

“Nothing is certain. That is why we need police to have another look.’’

Robyn Hickey who disappeared from Belmont in 1979. Picture: supplied

Amanda Robinson, was just 14 when she went missing in 1979. Picture: supplied

Ms Goodall’s mother, Beth Leen, had spent more than 30 years lobbying for her daughter’s killer to be brought to justice before passing away in 2012 aged 85.

Ms Mitchell said her mum, who had a close relationship with Amanda Robinson’s mother Anne, would be continuing to pressure authorities if she were still alive.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think it is fantastic that they are looking at Amanda and Robyn’s cases again,’’ Ms Mitchell said.

“I just think it is pretty crook that everyone seems to have forgotten about Leanne. Again.’’