Sam Wilson’s High Country murder still an unsolved mystery

Nobody reported Sam Wilson’s 2018 disappearance. And a wall of silence followed when her body was found at a lonely bush site.

Sam Wilson's former partner David Grady (right) was among those questioned over the mum's death.

For nine long months no one saw or heard from Sam Wilson.

The 53-year-old mother had seemingly vanished from her home in Victoria’s High Country and not a single person had reported her missing to police.

But on May 11, 2019, her cruel fate was uncovered by chance.

Tucked away in dense, remote bushland were her heavily decomposed remains.

Hunters made the gruesome discovery in Abbeyard, not far from where she lived.

Since then the alpine mystery has been sealed in silence.

Few want to talk about Ms Wilson or the suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death.

Even her closest friends and family have kept quiet.

However, her death remains an active homicide investigation, with detectives yet to make any arrests.

Ms Wilson’s former partner, David Grady, was among those questioned by police as part of the investigation.

Sam Wilson seemingly vanished from her home in Victoria’s High Country.

Sam's former partner David Grady was among those questioned over the mum's death.

The rugged outback hunter had separated from Ms Wilson months before she was last seen in August 2018.

The Sunday Herald Sun has been told the split was not harmonious and there had been conflict over her outstaying her welcome at his remote property in Abbeyard.

Mr Grady began a new romantic relationship with a local woman, soon after Ms Wilson vanished.

She moved in to his home and items of her clothing were seized by homicide investigators for forensic analysis.

The Sunday Herald Sun is not suggesting Mr Grady or his new partner were involved in Ms Wilson’s death, just that they were spoken to by police.

The homicide investigation itself has been difficult, partly due to the advanced decomposition of Ms Wilson’s remains, which took weeks to identify.

There are also outstanding questions over why no one reported her missing for nine months.

Dave Grady's home in Abbeyard.

A source close to the investigation said police suspected her body had been tampered with post-mortem.

“They didn’t believe where she was found was where she died and that perhaps someone had moved her there afterwards,” the source said.

However, others believe her death was not suspicious at all and that she may have died of her own will.

Abbeyard is a secluded pocket located between Bright and Mt Buller in Victoria’s northeast and is a hotspot for wildlife hunters.

It was home to Ms Wilson since 2016 when she struck up a relationship with Mr Grady.

His friends became her friends and she loved the town and its serenity.

In 2017 she posted a picture on Facebook of her feet up in an outdoor bath.

“There is a paradise,” she wrote.

Ms Wilson also posted numerous photos of Mr Grady and his friends with hunting catches, including dead dogs and deer.

Sam Wilson described life in Abbeyard as "paradise".

A close friend who did not want to be named told the Sunday Herald Sun she was a “lovely” woman and hoped police would find answers soon.

“Until you know a cause of death, her life story is not complete,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed police were yet to rule out foul play in the bush mystery.

“Investigations remain ongoing in relation to the death of a 53-year-old Abbeyard woman after her remains were discovered last year,” she said.

“The woman’s remains were found by hunters in bushland near Abbeyard Road about 3pm on 11 May, 2019.

“The remains were formally identified several weeks after the discovery and investigators learned the 53-year-old had not been seen in the Abbeyard area since August 2018 but had not been reported missing.

“The Homicide Squad’s investigation into the woman’s death remains active and ongoing.

“The death continues to be treated as suspicious at this time.”

Victoria’s vast wilderness holds in it many secrets yet to be unravelled.

A wealthy businessman, prison boss, hiker and two elderly campers have all vanished without a trace in the bush in the past decade alone.

Most recent was the disappearance of Carol Clay, 73, and Russell Hill, 74, along the Wonnongatta River in March this year.

Mr Hill was married and his wife had no idea he was camping with Ms Clay when they vanished.

Sam posted numerous photos of Mr Grady and his friends with hunting catches, including dead dogs and deer.

His Toyota Landcruiser and campsite were found burnt out and police have said they believe it was likely they met with foul play before being moved from the area.

Experienced hiker Niels Becker also vanished while trekking to Mt Stirling in October 2019. The 39-year-old had been training for the hike for six months, and his father Peer said his son “was making sure he was strong and fit and was exercising all the time”.

Sandhurst businessman Conrad Whitlock, 72, mysteriously disappeared in July last year.

His white BMW was found about 20km from Mansfield on the road towards Mt Buller, and his wife said his disappearance was very “out of character”.

Former Barwon Prison general manager David Prideaux went missing during a deer-hunting expedition with his brother-in-law at Mt Stirling in July 2011.

Extensive bushland searches were conducted in each of the missing person cases but their bodies have never been found.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about Ms Wilson’s death to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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@AneekaSimonis