Rubyvale cold case: Disappearance of Frank Foley may yet be solved

It’s the missing person mystery that’s gripped a small Central Queensland town for almost 15 years. But the cold case puzzle of what happened to Francis “Frank” Foley is finally being pieced together.

Queensland Police search a dry creek in Reward, near Rubyvale, where the human remains of Francis "Frank" Foley were found last year.

It’s the missing person mystery that’s gripped a small Central Queensland town for almost 15 years.

A man with a stash of expensive gems missing on a Rubyvale mining claim, likely murdered, but no body or killer ever found.

But the cold case puzzle of what happened to Francis “Frank” Foley is finally being pieced together, with police uncovering human remains on each day of their gruelling search through a now-dry creek bed in the rural town.

Mr Foley, 62, was last seen on December 23, 2008, after returning from a trip to Emerald with his neighbour.

Human remains found in Central Queensland have been identified as missing 62-year-old Francis Patrick Foley, reigniting an investigation into his alleged murder.

The same neighbour went to check on him on December 28 after some flooding, but instead found an exploded gas bottle at his cabin, Mr Foley’s discarded wallet, bullet holes through a door, and blood on the ground.

Despite extensive searches, Mr Foley’s killer was never found.

At the time of his death, Mr Foley was working as a caretaker of a friend’s mining claim in the fossicking area of Reward, near Rubyvale. Neither the neighbour nor Mr Foley’s friend was accused of any wrongdoing.

The Reward fossicking area near Rubyvale. Pic Jeff Camden

The small town of 500 people and is nestled in the heart of The Gemfields in Central Queensland – one of the largest sapphire fields in the world.

Many famous sapphires have been found in the area over the years, including a huge black-blue sapphire named the “Black Star of Queensland” found in 1938, which weighed more than 1500 carats.

The possibility of fortune has lured thousands to the fields over the years in the hope of finding their own priceless treasure, including many who buy their own mining claims.

Locals say those who live on mining claims are looking for solace, and some never step foot in the township.

Many people live on mining claims near Rubyvale.

Eileen Brown has lived in Rubyvale for 43 years and has seen many people come and go, from all over the world, looking for fortune or a place to escape to.

Mrs Brown, of Rubyvale Gem Gallery, remembers when she heard that a man had gone missing, feared murdered.

“At the time, people thought someone was murdered, there was blood, but you never really knew.

“It’s a little town, you hear lots of stories, but the police never found anything.”

Charmaine, a resident of Rubyvale for 27 years, said another theory also emerged at the time.

“Some people thought he just went down a mining hole, like everyone else that disappears,” she said.

Locals said Mr Foley wasn’t well known – like many people who lived out on the mining claims.

Rubyvale is known for sapphire fossicking.

Charmaine, who works at The New Royal Hotel, said there were many people who lived out on the claims that wouldn’t step foot in town.

“There’d be people out there I’ve never set eyes on in my life, but there are some people who come in every now and again,” she said.

The case of Mr Foley’s death sat dormant for years until a fossicker found partial human remains in Sheep Station Creek in July last year, just a 1km from the cabin where Mr Foley used to live.

They were formally identified as belonging to Mr Foley in December last year. Locals had no idea of the discovery at the time.

This week, police announced a $500,000 appeal for information after reopening the case.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell addressing the media regarding an update in the investigation into the 2008 murder of Francis Foley, near Rubyvale.

Homicide Cold Case Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell was leading the investigation and flew out to Rubyvale this week to join a gruelling search through a dry creek bed where his remains were located.

Officers sweltered in the 35C heat as they excavated about 1km of the dry creek bed in four days, as well as using a sieve to manually sift through sand.

They used horses, four-wheel drives, trucks, and officers on foot to search a 54km area.

On Tuesday, the first day of the dig, police found human remains. On Wednesday and Thursday they found even more.

Queensland Police search a dry creek in Reward, near Rubyvale, where the human remains of Francis "Frank" Foley were found last year.

“We’re doing a comprehensive search of all different parts of the creek … (the remains have) all been in the same general area,” Detective Kentwell said.

Forensic officers from Rockhampton joined the investigation this week but Detective Kentwell said the human remains are still to be formally identified.

“If it is Francis it will give some more closure to his family and this case.”

Originally published as Rubyvale cold case: Disappearance of Frank Foley may yet be solved