Man charged and acquitted over the murder of Elisabeth Membrey says his life is ruined

MAN charged and acquitted over the murder of Elisabeth Membrey says his life is ruined. So what happened to Australia’s own gone girl?

Missing person Elisabeth Membrey was last seen in 1994.

THERE was dried blood up the hallway, a half written letter on a desk, a missing doona and a gone girl.

Elisabeth Membrey was just 22 when she was the victim of a sadistic attack 22 years ago.

Splatters of blood were on the walls of her Ringwood apartment in Melbourne’s east and it appeared as if somebody made an effort to clean them, along with the carpet.

Her body has never been found and nobody has been jailed for her death but police believe she was murdered and her body was wrapped in the doona that went missing from her apartment.

She was alone, her flatmate was away, and after planning to spend the night with her boyfriend she got called into work at the Manhatten Hotel and did not knock off until almost midnight.

Shane Bond was accused of her murder but charges against him were later dropped in 2012.

He was acquitted after a jury deliberated for a week and the Herald Sun reported he was just one of many suspects.

Ms Membrey’s former work colleague had been the main suspect for 10 years but in 2006 police turned their focus to Bond.

Since her death, very little has been known about what happened to Ms Membrey on the night of December 6, 1994.

The Herald Sun reported the case against Mr Bond was based on stories from witnesses who claimed the accused allegedly confessed to them.

Elisabeth Membrey was just 22 when she went missing.

A former housemate also alleged Mr Bond returned home covered in blood on the night Ms Membrey disappeared.

Prosecutor Geoff Horgan alleged Mr Bond had a crush on Ms Membrey and she rejected him, but the jury did not believe any of the claims.

Mr Bond has spoken out for the first time since he faced court over Ms Membrey’s death.

The Herald Sun reports Mr Bond said, through his lawyer, his life was ruined by the allegations.

He was charged with the murder in 2010 and spent two years on remand.

The Herald Sun reports Mr Bond began taking the drug ice and can’t keep a job.

Mr Bond has been required to face court for driving and dishonesty offences but often failed to show up out of fear of media attention.

Elisabeth Membrey’s red Mazda.

Last year internet sleuths were trying to find answers to Ms Membrey’s murder.

There is a $1 million reward for anybody who can put forward information that leads to a conviction.

Those with an interest in Ms Membrey’s case discussed it on Reddit with some even making suggestions about where her body could be.

There was dirt found in the wheels of Ms Membrey’s red Mazda and one internet sleuth believed her body was on a property in the Woori Yallock Basin, less than 60km from Ringwood.

At the property there was a red soil track that led directly to a dam and the red soil was similar to what was found in Ms Membrey’s car tyres.

Forensic tests on the tyres discovered the woman’s car was driven on a dirt road between 60km/h and 70km/h for at least four kilometres.

Police believe the killer drove her car because Ms Membrey only drove on bitumen.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the death of Elisabeth Membrey had been extensively investigated.

“Unsolved homicides always remain open and the current investigators are best placed to make decisions on what they believe is the right course of action to be taken for an investigation at that time.”

If anyone has information which they believe can assist police in locating Elisabeth’s remains we urge them to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au