$500,000 reward issued for information on 43 year old cold case

A $500,000 reward is being offered by Tasmania Police for information that can help uncover what happened to a mother of six who disappeared 43 years ago. FULL STORY >>

A $500,000 reward is being offered by Tasmania Police for information that can help uncover what happened to mother of six Darlene Geertsema, who disappeared from her Devonport home 43 years ago.

The 30-year-old was last seen leaving the family home in Best Street on October 23, 1978 in her 1977 red Holden Sunbird.

Her four eldest daughters were living in Queensland at the time of her disappearance, with her two youngest children including her daughter, Kathryn, still in Tasmania.

Kathryn was eight years old when her mother disappeared said losing her mother at such a young age was devastating.

“We are fighting for answers. She is somewhere, and (to know where she is) would bring closure to us so we can get on with our lives,” she said.

“We were her world. It was out of character for my mum to leave … she wouldn’t have walked out on us for sure, I know that in my heart.”

Devonport woman Darlene Geertsema who disappeared 37 years ago, pictured with her daughter Kathryn.

In October this year at a case management hearing in Launceston her former partner John Shepherd was named as a person of interest.

Mr Shepherd, now in his 70s, was in the court and will reappear at a coronial investigation starting on December 13.

Detective Sergeant Felicity Boyd said someone in the community knows exactly what happened to do her.

“As part of the review that we have been commencing since 2013 it has become more apparent to us that Darlene is in fact deceased, and she died in very suspicious circumstances.”

Detective Sergeant Boyd said the review came about at the request of family members.