Michael Sanders missing: Moorabbin TAFE teacher’s disappearance ruled suicide

A Mt Martha teacher who vanished after leaving work in 2016 was hiding a huge secret from his family, a court has heard.

A Mt Martha man missing for close to five years died after jumping from a cliff on the Great Ocean Road, an inquest has found.

Moorabbin TAFE engineering teacher Michael Brian Sanders, 57, was reported missing in May 2016 after he left work and never returned home.

Michael Sanders’ disappearance has been ruled a suicide. Picture: Facebook

The inquest into his disappearance ended on March 3 in the Coroner’s Court, with Coroner Audrey Jamieson ruling Mr Sanders’ suspected death a suicide.

It’s believed Mr Sanders threw himself into treacherous waters at Peterborough on or around May 25, 2016 as financial and workplace stress mounted after he was declared bankrupt three months’ prior.

Mr Sanders’ silver Volkswagen sedan containing his iPad, keys, wallet and phone was found near the London Bridge carpark on May 26.

One eyewitness told police she sighted the teacher standing “2m from the verge” about 2.45pm on May 25.

“He was looking at the ground as if he was searching for something,” the woman said.

The court heard Mr Sanders’ family and partner of 35 years, Gayle O’Connor, had been kept in the dark regarding piling debt stemming from an unfinished job relating to the couple’s former metal fabrication business, Ironic Twist.

The couple successfully ran the business between 1990 and 2010 but a customer took Mr Sanders to VCAT in July 2015 after $60,000 worth of metal he purchased began to rust.

The tribunal heard Mr Sanders agreed to repair the metal but had not completed the work.

Mr Sanders failed to show at the hearing and a judgment was made against him for the full amount.

The court heard Ms O’Connor noticed her partner had been feeling “concerned” and did not sleep well in the night before a scheduled meeting with the Moorabbin TAFE engineering faculty dean on May 23, 2016.

Mr Sanders left for work about 6.30am before his partner went to check their post box.

“ (Ms O’Connor) was shocked to discover (letters explaining) that Mr Sanders was engaged in a monetary dispute, he had been declared bankrupt, and their home was to be sold unless he was able to pay the debt,” Ms Jamieson said.

“Ms O’Connor telephoned Mr Sanders to discuss her concerns … he initially denied the issues but ultimately said that he had received notification about this civil matter in February (2016) and thought it would ‘go away’.”

A colleague reported Mr Sanders appeared “pale” with messy hair at work after he was tasked with jobs to complete by the next day following his meeting.

Mr Sanders left the jobs unfinished on his desk before walking out just before 5pm, the court heard.

“(The colleague) said (he was acting) out of character and he was normally talkative and friendly,” Ms Jamieson said.

Mr Sanders — who had no history of mental health issues — was never heard from again, with his phone, passport, and bank accounts going cold.

Ms O’Connor reported her partner missing at Mornington police station about 10pm.

He made no taxi or accommodation bookings, the court heard.

Ms Jamieson said Mr Sanders had likely taken his own life on or around May 25, adding it was not possible to state the cause of death because a body had never been found.

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