Coroner announces reopening of investigation into death of Sarah Brown

Questions have long surrounded the death of 23-year-old Sarah Brown, who went missing four years ago and was found dead a week later in nearby bushland. Now, new evidence has forced the reopening of the investigation into her death.

The investigation into the death of 23-year-old Sarah Brown at Gympie in 2021 is being reopened on the back of a years-long battle by her mother, janet Gardner (left) and a popular crime podcast on the tragedy.

The investigation into the death of Sarah Brown, 23, in Gympie four years ago will be reopened on the back of a years-long campaign by her mother and podcaster Graeme Crowley.

Sarah’s body was found in bushland near Victory Trails in Gympie seven days after she went missing in 2021 and controversially ruled a suicide.

Her mother Janet Gardner has been fighting ever since for a coronial inquest into her daughter’s death, writing to the Queensland Coroner in August 2024 saying there were multiple “points of dispute” and allegations of an inadequate police investigation.

A response from the Chambers of the State Coroner on January 23, 2025, agreed with her view, saying the office had “determined that the investigation … should be reopened”.

The 23-year-old disappeared from her Victory Heights home about 6pm on Monday, June 7, 2021, and her body was not found for a week.

The investigation into the death of 23-year-old Sarah Brown at Gympie in 2021 is being reopened on the back of a years-long battle by her mother, Janet Gardner (left) and a popular crime podcast on the tragedy.

It was reported she was going to buy alcohol from a nearby shop.

Ms Gardner arrived in Gympie the day after her daughter went missing, having arranged to meet with her.

A frantic search ensued, and Sarah was listed as missing on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

Her body was found five days later on Monday, June 14, in bushland at Victory Trails, near her home.

Her death was initially reported as non-suspicious and ruled a suicide.

Ms Gardner disputed the ruling based on the injuries to her daughter’s left hand as a result of drug use, saying in 2024 “I don’t believe she could have done it herself”.

Her concerns were made public in media coverage from The Gympie Times, and the circumstances around the 23-year-old’s death were put further under the microscope in a podcast published by retired detective and private investigator Graeme Crowley.

The eight part podcast, launched in 2024, shone a light on several questions surrounding Sarah’s death.

On Friday, January 24, 2025, Ms Gardner welcomed the investigation’s reopening but said “the battle’s not over yet”.

Sarah Brown’s death was put under the microscope in a podcast published by retired detective and private investigator Graeme Crowley.

“I promised Sare I would get justice and I won’t be stopping until I do,” she said.

Mr Crowley said he would be “pleased” if his podcast had an effect on the decision but “the driving force throughout this has been Janet Gardner”.

“She knew this was off from day one,” Mr Crowley said.

He said there remained a “wealth of unanswered questions” surrounding Ms Brown’s death, and he hoped the investigation would help answer them.

Sarah Brown disappeared from her Victory Heights home in Gympie about 6pm on Monday, June 7, 2021, and her body was not found for a week.

The coroner’s decision and letter short of delivering a full inquest, which Ms Gardner was pushing for.

“I consider that the circumstances of the death warrant further investigation before it can be concluded it is in the public interest that an inquest should be held,” the letter states.

Mr Crowley said he would have preferred a full inquest be announced but “I’m happy for any progress in this case”.

The state Coroner’s office has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Coroner announces reopening of investigation into death of Sarah Brown