Brewarrina murder: Strike Force Mayville detectives hunt for killers of Lightning Ridge man Joel Vrtacnik
Detectives believe a grainy video, lit up by a murderous pre-dawn blaze just outside a small town in the state’s far west, can hold the key to catching the killer or killers of a popular young opal miner. See the video.
It is a shadowy figure in a grainy video, lit up by a murderous pre-dawn blaze just outside a small far west town which detectives believe can hold the key to catching a killer or killers.
Moments earlier on that Sunday morning in September, a fire had engulfed an SUV parked off the Kamilaroi Hwy just outside of Brewarrina.
Upon inspection – and after fire crews had extinguished the blaze – the remains of popular Lightning Ridge opal miner and doting dad Joel Vrtacnik were discovered inside.
And although Strike Force Mayville investigators have not publicly released the cause of the 27-year-old’s death, which has shattered his large family and rocked several communities in the state’s far west, they are treating it as murder.
The Saturday Telegraph can now reveal that Strike Force Mayville investigators believe the shadowy figure may have been recoiling away from the blaze after being caught up in the explosion on September 28.
And it is the potential injuries that person received that has the interest of detectives.
“Strike Force Mayville detectives have been making significant inquiries in this investigation and every day we are getting closer to an answer,” Central North crime manager Det Insp Andrew Barnes said.
“But we are still missing a key piece to the puzzle, which is what we are appealing for today.
“Anyone who may have been injured at the time of the explosion, or who may have witnessed a person with burn injuries on or around [November 28] is urged to contact police.”
Mr Vrtacnik had left Lightning Ridge before dawn the previous day – a Saturday – and travelled the 195km to Brewarrina where he had spent time with friends and new acquaintances through the day.
He is known to have visited a local petrol station and a supermarket at different times during the day, and detectives have released a still of his SUV caught about 6.30am on that Saturday morning.
But it was Mr Vrtacnik’s movements on that Saturday night which are of interest to investigators as they continue to explore reports of numerous vehicles seen driving within the Barwon Four Reserve, just outside of Brewarrina, in the lead up to the discovery of the burning car at 5.15am on Sunday.
“Given the short time Joel spent in Brewarrina, investigators are searching for answers as to how less than 24 hours after arriving in Brewarrina he was found in such tragic circumstances,” Det Insp Barnes said.
“We believe there are people with information that is relevant to this investigation who have not spoken to police and we wish to speak with these people.”
Detectives executed four crime scene warrants within Barwon Four Reserve and at a home on Cato Street in Brewarrina in October where they allegedly seized clothing and undertook forensic testing for further examination.
No one has been charged over the death.
Mr Vrtacnik’s grieving mum, Louise Cochrane, pleaded for information which will help her family discover what happened to her son.
“He was a very caring person, he was one of those people who would give you everything including the shirt off his back,” Ms Cochrane said.
“He loved going out fishing, he loved going pigging, he loved going to visit his grandparents and other relatives.
“We need to know what happened.”
Joel’s father, Patrick Vrtacnik, echoed the pleas for help within the small communities in and around Brewarrina.
“He had an infectious laugh, something that everyone knew,” Mr Vrtacnik said.
“He was a happy-go-lucky type of fella. He didn’t deserve this – no one deserves this.”
Originally published as Brewarrina murder: Strike Force Mayville detectives hunt for killers of Lightning Ridge man Joel Vrtacnik
