Unsolved: Inside Far North’s most twisted cold cases
The brother of a teen girl whose body was found in a creek a month after she disappeared is among dozens of family members waiting for closure as some of the region’s most heinous crimes remain unsolved. INSIDE FAR NORTH’S COLD CASES
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IN an age of sophisticated forensic technology, a number of unsolved crimes still chill the bones of Far North Queensland residents with many families yearning to have closure on what happened to their loved one.
For Aaron Mealing, having someone come forward who can tell the truth of what happened to his teenage sister Angela Mealing after leaving a Cairns party on April 2, 2000, “would be a dream come true.”
“Grief and anger is what I feel when I think about what happened to Angela,” he said.
“If this happened today, there would be so much more pressure to solve the crime.”
Ms Mealing, 17 vanished on April 2, 2000, after accepting a lift from Cairns to Gordonvale from off-duty police officer Adrian Deemal.
Her body was found in Behana Creek, 30km south of Cairns, more than a month later, but a coronial inquiry failed to determine the cause of her death.
Deemal spent a year in jail after being found guilty of perjury in 2008 for lying about his movements that night, but no other charges have ever been laid.
The third-year constable was never charged over the death and denies any involvement.
A reward of $250,000 still remains in place for information.
Mr Mealing, 40, said the police have not been in contact with his family since the death of his mother Jacqueline Shadforth who staged a public campaign and fought for justice for years, passed away in 2008.
“We have had no dialogue with the police in years,” he said.
“I have no idea where the investigation is at.
“But I hope that someone who knows something will come forward, it would mean so much for the family, even though it would open up old wounds,” he said,
Mr Mealing said he felt that if his sister was murdered today, the result could have been different.
“It would be all over social media,” he said.
“There would be a lot more pressure on the police force to find out what happened.”
The Mark of the Black Hand – William Paul and Grayvyda Clarke
Forty-one years ago the charred bodies of William Paul Clarke and his Latvian wife Grayvyda were found by a family friend in their burned Julatten farmhouse.
A day later Mareeba police identified the couple and revealed they had been killed with shotguns, executed in a style reminiscent of the Calabrian Ndrangheta crime gang, a rural-based organisation akin to the Sicilian mafia with ties to Melbourne and Griffith’s “grass castles” in NSW.
Mr Clarke moved to Julatten in the 1970s to cash in on the cannabis trade near Mareeba, then considered to be Queensland’s marijuana capital.
Investigators did not make swift progress – it was four years before Terry Sichter, a former crop sitter for the Clarkes, was charged with their murder.
He was acquitted after a 10-day trial and found shot through the head in 1989.
A 1984 Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence briefing to Queensland Cabinet suggested the Clarkes were killed by one of two Melbourne-based Calabrians – Rocco Francesco Medici, 47, and his brother-in-law Guiseppe Loui Furina, 41, who arranged drug payments and transport.
Their chain-bound bodies were found in the Murrumbidgee River, near Griffith, in 1984.
The Clarkes’ murder remains unsolved.
Cherry Tree Creek, Atherton – Vicki Arnold and Julie-Ann Leahy
When best friends Vicki Arnold and Julie-Ann Leahy were found slain at Cherry Tree Creek in 1994, police believed it was a murder-suicide and Ms Arnold killed Ms Leahy and then herself.
The scene that greeted the dirt bike riders that found the pair was grim.
Ms Leahy was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a Nissan Patrol, shot twice in the head, beaten and suffered knife wounds.
Ms Arnold lay slumped between the front passenger seat and the dash.
But the murder-suicide theory has always been disputed by Atherton locals according to former Atherton Mayor Jim Chapman.
“The town reacted to it as they never believed it was a murder-suicide,” he said.
The crime is remembered as much by its brutality as for the bungled investigation – budgetary considerations at the time ruled out forensic examination of the scene.
In 2015 the Department of Public Prosecutions dropped a case against Ms Leahy’s husband, Alan Leahy, who maintained his innocence until his death in Alice Springs.
It is understood that the family of the two women, locals, former police and private investigators accept the theory that self-declared serial killer and standover man Christopher Dunlea – murdered in 1994 – was involved with their deaths.
But after three coronial inquests, the case remains unsolved.
Blind loyalty – Marko Jekic
Police believe someone in FNQ is keeping a murderous secret for 33 years, perhaps due to loyalty or fear or both.
In 2019 police reopened the cold case, codenamed Operation Papa Glimmer, and announced a $250,000 reward linked to the disappearance of Cairns man Marko Jekic, also known as Mike Jekic, 44, in 1989.
The opal dealer left Cairns with a briefcase of cash on April 1 with plans of conducting business deals through the Cassowary Coast, but was never heard from again.
Police strongly suspect he met with foul play and have never revealed the nature of the “business deals” Mr Jekic was involved in or his link to the associates he was due to meet with.
In 2020, Tully police Detective Sergeant Steve Watts revealed that despite the reward announcement, they were yet to receive a single call or piece of information from the public, despite him being certain there were several people still living in the region who know what happened.
“It’s more the blind loyalty from back in those days and why they still harbour that loyalty, I don’t know,” he said.
“After 30 years, that certainly should have eroded by now.
“We believe we have already spoken to the person (who could provide the information), but they’re not willing to.”
Mr Jekic was carrying a briefcase full of $125,000 when he left Cairns to meet with people in El Arish, Ingham, Townsville and Bowen.
It is understood Mr Jekic’s former de facto partner still resides in Cairns and Sgt Watts said she remained desperate for answers.
Police believe up to four people could have been involved in Mr Jekic’s murder and some had since died, but at least one was still alive and living in north Queensland.
Sgt Watts said they had previously attempted to contact Mr Jekic’s Yugoslavian family, without success.
Mr Jekic disappeared three days before Category 3 Cyclone Ava crossed the coast between Townsville and Bowen, which police hoped could help prompt people’s memories.
Murder on a quiet beach – Toyah Cordingley
Ms Cordingley’s body was discovered on Wangetti beach, north of Cairns, the day following her death in October 2018 by her father, Troy Cordingley.
No charges have been laid over the murder of dog walker Ms Cordingley, 24, despite a police investigation spanning more than two years.
An extradition order remains for the prime suspect Cairns nurse, Rajwinder Singh two years after he left his wife, child and job and fled to India.
Body never found – Bruce Schuler
In 2012 Bruce Schuler disappeared while prospecting on Palmerville Station in Cape York with three friends.
The station owners, Stephen Struber and Dianne Wilson-Struber, are serving life sentences after being convicted of killing him in 2015.
But his body has never been found and despite the introduction of “no body, no parole” laws in Queensland after a campaign led by Mr Schuler’s widow, Fiona Splitt, the couple have never revealed its location.
Despite a large-scale search of the 134,000ha property by police, two gold prospectors Tremain Anderson and Daniel Ridner, who were with Mr Schuler on the trip where he disappeared, told police they believed the couple took the body and disposed of it in the Chillagoe limestone formations.
In 2019, police Detective Sergeant Brad McLeish said they had done “extensive” searches of the station
“But it’s literally a needle in a haystack,” he said.
“We believe they have driven the body from the location but we don’t know to where.
“The body could literally be 100m or 500 miles from the murder (scene).”
Jayden Penno-Tompsett
Jayden Penno-Tompsett, 22, disappeared on a road trip along a lonely Queensland highway.
His sole journeyman was Lucas Tattersall, 19 and the mates were headed from Newcastle, NSW to a 2018 New Year’s Eve bash in Cairns.
But something happened just outside Charters Towers in the early hours of December 31.
Mr Tattersall said the combination of drugs and a 2300km road trip spiralled into an explosive argument.
Mr Penno-Tompsett pulled over on remote Stockroute Rd and according to Mr Tattersall, threatened him, but denied things turned violent.
Instead he said, Mr Penno-Tompsett walked off to clear his head.
He has not been seen since.
If you know something which could help shed light on these unsolved murders and provide closure to families still grieving after years or in some cases decades of uncertainty, contact Crime Stoppers Queensland on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersqld.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Unsolved: Inside Far North’s most twisted cold cases
Cyclist suffers ‘significant injuries’ in solo crash south of Cairns
A Far North cyclist is recovering in hospital with “significant injuries” after crashing into a stationary vehicle.
Cops investigate feeding of Clyde amid calls for influencer to be fined
A Far North Qld landowner says it’s only a matter of time before someone is eaten as droves of people, including an Insta influencer, trespass on his land to feed, harass and have picnics near an iconic crocodile. Have your say and vote in our poll.