Dying Rose | New twist in Charlene Warrior case over police search, local farmer’s death

In stunning revelations, a Bute farmer police described as “in hospital” was in fact already dead – raising more questions over search efforts for Charlene Warrior.

Police said the owner of a paddock next to where Charlene Warrior’s body was in plain sight was “in hospital dying”, hampering search efforts – but it has been revealed he had actually been dead for weeks.

Locals close to his family said there were “more eyes on the paddock than ever” at the time and it “didn’t add up” that no-one saw Charlene’s body for 13 days.

In a 51-page report into the death of 21-year-old Charlene, who had been missing for two weeks before her body was found in a tree just 100m from where she was last seen, SA Police listed possible reasons her body could have gone unseen.

Police said the owner of a paddock next to the tree where Charlene was found (pictured) was in hospital – but he had been dead for weeks. Picture: Sarah Reed

One of them was that the owner of a sheep paddock adjacent to where her body was found, Lewis Schulz, was “in hospital dying of an illness”.

“Unfortunately it is highly probable this gentleman may have discovered the deceased when checking his stock and paddock well before the date she was eventually discovered,” the detective said in the report.

But someone who knew Mr Schulz, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had actually died of a heart attack on September 12 – eight days before Charlene disappeared and three weeks before her body was found.

“When I saw what was written in the police report, about him being unwell, I thought, ‘that part isn’t correct’,” they said.

“They were insinuating that he wouldn’t have been checking the paddock – but because he died suddenly, there was a band of people around there because it was such a heart-wrenching time.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains images and voices of people who have died.

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A 51-page report into Charlene's death was released to her family, almost two years after she died. Picture: Supplied

They said dozens of friends, family and locals had banded together to check on the sheep after his death and it was “unbelievable” that Charlene’s body could have gone unnoticed.

A 10-acre paddock sits between the property and the tree where Charlene was hanging, but a source close to the family said there was a “clear line of sight” from the fence line.

“Every day there were people walking past and they all looked in the paddock at the sheep – they would let the family know if one was limping or it was in trouble,” they said.

“There were probably even more eyes on the paddock than ever because they knew (Mr Schulz) wasn’t around.”

Family members contacted Port Pirie police station on Thursday, after reading The Advertiser’s coverage of the police report, to question the discrepancy.

They were told police came to the conclusion Mr Schulz was “sick in hospital” after speaking to other townspeople.

Another friend of the family, who wished to remain anonymous, said she thought it was “disgraceful” that police had mistaken the fact of the owner’s death in the report.

“It’s absolutely disgusting that they would use a dead man as part of their excuse,” she said.

Charlene Warrior and her daughter, A'methyst. Picture: Supplied by the Warrior family

Charlene’s mother Alma says she has been left “appalled” by the police response. Picture: Emma Brasier

Someone close to Mr Schulz’s family said the small, close-knit town still had unanswered questions about Charlene’s death.

“I think most of the townspeople still feel exactly like the family, that there’s something that’s just not adding up. Country people are nosy – they would have been looking in the yard,” they said.

“I know quite a few people who walked up and down the road. I don‘t know if the police ever asked them, ‘On any of your walks, did you ever look over to that tree?

“Police seemed to have come to the conclusion because they said there was no evidence that she was anywhere else, so she must have been in the tree (for two weeks).

“I thought that was such a foregone conclusion and such an odd way to look at it.”

When asked for comment, SA Police said the case remained under the State Coroner’s jurisdiction.

“The State Coroner has asked that SAPOL ensure there is no release of information or public comment about this matter,” a police spokesperson said.

“SAPOL is therefore unable to comment publicly whilst the Coroner’s jurisdiction is still being exercised.”

The report on the investigation into her death – including a final “note”, phone records from the morning she died and details of the search – revealed that police also blamed large dogs for hampering search efforts and that locals actually launched a welfare search for Charlene two days before she disappeared.

Charlene is one of six Aboriginal women whose cases are being investigated by The Advertiser in Dying Rose, a podcast in which their families ask whether police properly responded to their deaths.

REACH OUT FOR HELP

While the media generally avoids reporting details about suicide, to understand the families’ concerns about these cases it is important to give the full context of these tragic deaths.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders requiring crisis support can call 13YARN (13 92 76)

• Anyone needing help with issues of mental health or depression can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

• If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

• Men experiencing anger or relationship issues can call Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491

• In an emergency, call triple-0

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Originally published as Dying Rose | New twist in Charlene Warrior case over police search, local farmer’s death