Police appeal for information Kowanyama woman presumed missing for 10 years

Police have doorknocked the area a 23-year-old woman went missing on the 10th anniversary of her disappearance hoping to uncover evidence which could finally lead to answers.

Police have doorknocked the area a 23-year-old woman went missing on the 10th anniversary of her disappearance hoping to uncover evidence which could finally lead to answers.

Allison Neridine Bernard was last seen on February 10 in 2013 about 11pm at the Exchange Hotel in Coen with Archer River Quarry caretaker Thomas Byrnes.

A detective senior constable told an inquest into her disappearance last year that he suspected she was murdered but no charges had been laid.

The inquest heard in 2013 Mr Byrnes reportedly told police he took Ms Bernard back to his place after drinking at the hotel.

He claimed she urinated on herself, had a shower and the pair had a consensual sexual encounter before Ms Bernard walked off into the night wearing nothing but a towel, never to be seen or heard from again.

At the time, she had been expected to travel to Kowanyama but never arrived.

The inquest also heard the day after Ms Bernard went missing, Mr Byrnes called police to say she had stolen a car – only to call back 13 minutes later to tell police he had forgotten where it was.

Thomas Byrnes leaves the Cairns courthouse precinct after day three of an inquest into the disappearance of Kowanyama mother Allison Neridine bernard. Mr Byrnes was the last person to see Ms Bernard alive when she disappeared from the Archer River Quarry in February 2013.

Mr Byrnes did not call police to report Ms Bernard missing the inquest heard.

The inquest heard police ultimately visited the quarry three days later, after Ms Bernard’s family reported her missing the inquest heard.

At the time Mr Byrne’s told police, “I haven’t done anything with her. I haven’t murdered her or did anything else,” the inquest heard.

No trace of Ms Bernard has ever been found and no charges have been laid over her disappearance.

A spokesman from the Department of Justice confirmed part of the Bernard inquest had been heard, however the date for the next sitting is still to be fixed.

In a statement on Friday Queensland Police said: “A large scale of the quarry and surrounding area utilising police on foot, quad bikes and vehicles along with helicopters, SES, Defence

Force personnel and the police dive quad failed to locate any sign of Ms Bernard.
“New drone and camera technology which was unavailable in 2013 was utilised for a systematic search of the area in 2021, along with officers on horseback and in four-wheel drives.

CCTV footage from the Exchange Hotel in Coen of Archer River Quarry caretaker Thomas Byrnes and missing Kowanyama mother-of-two Allison Neridine Bernard. February 10, 2013.

“The target search operation, along with further searches in the Coen area in late 2022, unfortunately did not advance investigations.”

Ten years on, Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan remains determined someone knows something that could provide answer’s to the Allison’s disappearance.

“Allison would now be 33, she could have lived a full life and had a family – but instead her loved ones are left wondering,” Acting Superintendent Goan said.

“We will not give up. Allison’s disappearance has had a devastating impact on this community and together we won’t stop until we find answers.

“That’s why we are in Coen today, with a dedicated group of volunteers, door knocking the community in the hopes anyone with information, no matter how small, may prove to be the key to locating Allison.”

Allison is described as First Nations, approximately 155cms tall, with a slim build and brown hair.

“We would like to thank the local community who continues to support our ongoing investigations, and urge members of the public to continue to spread the word – anyone with information should immediately contact police.”

Originally published as Police appeal for information Kowanyama woman presumed missing for 10 years