Australia Australia - Marion Barter - Missing After Trip to UK - June 1997 #21

[inkpink]

This is an intriguing case which is just starting to gain some traction due to her daughter's relentless efforts.

Here is the facebook page:

Missing Person Marion Barter

...and a just released podcast 'The Lady Vanishes'

Left Behind | The Lady Vanishes on acast

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[Sillybilly]

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[Sillybilly]

Can anyone with a subscription perhaps post the text, or a summary?

Coroner calls in expert: was Ric Blum's lover Marion Barter poisoned? | The Australian

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[MrsEmmaPeel]

@CuriousKat99, @MrPickles, @mishy66 thanks for feedback. I’ll correct. I thought it was stated Marion made her first withdrawal long after her supposed return but couldn’t remember where. The Guardian said Marion withdrew right away. So which is it and that seems a huge difference. If Marion planned to stay 8 days in Australia but waited 13 days to start withdrawing money then something is very wrong, and I have a hard time imagining a scenario to explain that.

 

[MrPickles]

@CuriousKat99, @MrPickles, @mishy66 thanks for feedback. I’ll correct. I thought it was stated Marion made her first withdrawal long after her supposed return but couldn’t remember where. The Guardian said Marion withdrew right away. So which is it and that seems a huge difference. If Marion planned to stay 8 days in Australia but waited 13 days to start withdrawing money then something is very wrong, and I have a hard time imagining a scenario to explain that.

Yes, it’s very disturbing - including the triangle of - Brisbane, Grafton, BB. Brisbane to Grafton is over 4 hours drive, but Grafton is on the way to Nymboida (last stop 30 minutes before) where JO claims AKA had acreage with red gums. Fact or fiction? Who knows!
Grafton back to BB is nearly 2 hours drive.

 

[Housemartyn]

Yes, it’s very disturbing - including the triangle of - Brisbane, Grafton, BB. Brisbane to Grafton is over 4 hours drive, but Grafton is on the way to Nymboida (last stop 30 minutes before) where JO claims AKA had acreage with red gums. Fact or fiction? Who knows!
Grafton back to BB is nearly 2 hours drive.

Wow! I had no idea of the geography of it all ! So, soooo suspicious - as if it couldn't get even more so.

 

[MrPickles]

Wow! I had no idea of the geography of it all ! So, soooo suspicious - as if it couldn't get even more so.

Yes, the distance and triangulation always struck me as very strange. Obviously it could’ve been someone else using MB’s Medicare Card as a false lead. So much we don’t know.

The mention of land at Nymboida to JO is quite chilling IMO - So close to Grafton.

What went on between MB’s return on the 2nd of August through to the first withdrawal on the 15th? Was MB sick? If only the Novotel still had check in and check out records.

As a further note: Grafton to Armidale (A crime stopper’s caller claimed MB was buried in Armidale) is 2 hours 40 minutes drive. You drive through Nymboida to get to Armidale. Just thought I’d mention it.

 

[mishy66]

@CuriousKat99, @MrPickles, @mishy66 thanks for feedback. I’ll correct. I thought it was stated Marion made her first withdrawal long after her supposed return but couldn’t remember where. The Guardian said Marion withdrew right away. So which is it and that seems a huge difference. If Marion planned to stay 8 days in Australia but waited 13 days to start withdrawing money then something is very wrong, and I have a hard time imagining a scenario to explain that.

Yes thats the problem with media translating facts. Which is why many people have various time lines. Disappointing!
But if you stick with SL and the inquest/ podcast instead of the papers, it is usually accurate

Love the visual!

 

[mishy66]

If Marion planned to stay 8 days in Australia but waited 13 days to start withdrawing money then something is very wrong, and I have a hard time imagining a scenario to explain that.

Yep agree !

 

[mishy66]

@MrsEmmaPeel
This is what I have from the podcast/ FB page / inquest over the yrs.

After arriving at Brisbane Airport 2nd August Marion would have completed her eight day stay at the Novotel on the 10th of August, the day before the car was bought by AH. The car salesman confirmed he sold the Mitsubishi to AH on 11th August.

7 August RACQ insurance cancelled - by phone

13 AUGUST – MB MEDICARE CARD USED AT GRAFTON

18 AUGUST - WITHDRAWALS AT BYRON BAY BANK - BB police never investigated the CBA dealings

$5000 - withdrawn daily for 3.5 weeks at Commonwealth Byron, and 3 days in middle at Burleigh Heads totaling between $85k to $120k

21 September - AH doesnt turn up to do his job at the swim meet


15 OCTOBER - 80K final withdrawal at Ashmore - Marion's account where the house payment went into.

So lots of trips between Grafton, bank Byron, then Bank at Burleigh Heads, then back to Byron, then to Colonial Bank at Ashmore for someone who had no access to a car when she supposedly left the Novotel on the 10th August.

20 OCTOBER 1997 - SL reports Marion as a missing person at BB police station.

 

[*juniper*]

Yes, it’s very disturbing - including the triangle of - Brisbane, Grafton, BB. Brisbane to Grafton is over 4 hours drive, but Grafton is on the way to Nymboida (last stop 30 minutes before) where JO claims AKA had acreage with red gums. Fact or fiction? Who knows!
Grafton back to BB is nearly 2 hours drive.

I see the action radiating out from Wollongbar. And don't forget there were bank withdrawals from Burleigh Heads as well as Byron Bay.

I have wondered if there was a deliberate attempt to have various proof of life events (Brisbane, Grafton, Byron and Burleigh Heads) as a way of creating confusion and making it look like Marion was moving around the region rather than based in one location? This might have worked, had not Joni located the FNR lonely hearts ad, which then led to the police identifying AKA. JMO

 

[mishy66]

A

I see the action radiating out from Wollongbar. And don't forget there were bank withdrawals from Burleigh Heads as well as Byron Bay.

I have wondered if there was a deliberate attempt to have various proof of life events (Brisbane, Grafton, Byron and Burleigh Heads) as a way of creating confusion and making it look like Marion was moving around the region rather than based in one location? This might have worked, had not Joni located the FNR lonely hearts ad, which then led to the police identifying AKA. JMO

Agree!

No one was ever supposed to find that connection to AH.

His complete unraveling!

IF that had not been found, Sally probably would never have known he was involved with the disappearance of Marion.

JMO of course

 

[Carovb5]

Can and does he swim? Why would he “take over swim coaching of his daughter” - what experience would he have had with that? Or is it just another lot of his “I can do anything” BS. He seemed to be VERY involved in the sport and had enough knowledge to be somewhat respected in it. Just another link to water.

No idea, but searching in Belgian sites/info theres a Wouters in the Antwerp ‘Gendarmerie’ (‘rijkswacht’ in Dutch) in 1960 in the swimteam. There’s a picture of the team. Can’t in- or exclude it beïng him based on the picture.

Not an approved source, but you can all Google

‘Zwemploeg 2Mob Gp ANTWERPEN’ 1960

 

[MrsWattle]

Yes, it’s very disturbing - including the triangle of - Brisbane, Grafton, BB. Brisbane to Grafton is over 4 hours drive, but Grafton is on the way to Nymboida (last stop 30 minutes before) where JO claims AKA had acreage with red gums. Fact or fiction? Who knows!
Grafton back to BB is nearly 2 hours drive.

Jo said, Red Cedar not red gum I thought Blum might have a friend in that Grafton area with Red Cedar. The other thought was he bought shares in Cedar plantations.
The other connection was that his family members bought brand new properties in Cedar Crescent, East Ballina

 

[Procrastinator]

I see the action radiating out from Wollongbar. And don't forget there were bank withdrawals from Burleigh Heads as well as Byron Bay.

I have wondered if there was a deliberate attempt to have various proof of life events (Brisbane, Grafton, Byron and Burleigh Heads) as a way of creating confusion and making it look like Marion was moving around the region rather than based in one location? This might have worked, had not Joni located the FNR lonely hearts ad, which then led to the police identifying AKA. JMO

Yes Wollongbar!!

MOO there was an altercation at Wollongbar between Thursday 14th August and Sunday 17th August 1997 (thank you @mishy66 for the summary). Someone saw MB at Wollongbar and AH knows it and that’s why he’s saying the crap about the pilot and tea chests.

 

[mishy66]

Jo said, Red Cedar not red gum I thought Blum might have a friend in that Grafton area with Red Cedar. The other thought was he bought shares in Cedar plantations.
The other connection was that his family members bought brand new properties in Cedar Crescent, East Ballina

Yes Cedar Cresent is my thoughts too. Along with him reading NY book. He gets so much of his BS from books as we've seen.

 

[MrPickles]

I see the action radiating out from Wollongbar. And don't forget there were bank withdrawals from Burleigh Heads as well as Byron Bay.

I have wondered if there was a deliberate attempt to have various proof of life events (Brisbane, Grafton, Byron and Burleigh Heads) as a way of creating confusion and making it look like Marion was moving around the region rather than based in one location? This might have worked, had not Joni located the FNR lonely hearts ad, which then led to the police identifying AKA. JMO

Yes. A lot of miles getting racked up! And the fact NO ONE that knew Marion saw her in Burleigh or Ashmore. A woman who (from AKA) wanted nothing to do with her family anymore - Who could’ve withdrawn her funds in Brisbane. Why return to the Gold Coast at all? It wasn’t MB, IMO.

I mentioned the Crime Stoppers call earlier - Re: MB being buried in Armidale, NSW. Here’s a snippet from SL. It makes me so sad reading this. Talk about reeking foul!

 

[MrsWattle]

Double post

 

[MrsWattle]

Yes Wollongbar!!

MOO there was an altercation at Wollongbar between Thursday 14th August and Sunday 17th August 1997 (thank you @mishy66 for the summary). Someone saw MB at Wollongbar and AH knows it and that’s why he’s saying the crap about the pilot and tea chests.

I wonder if there was a disturbance and the police were called, or a scream was reported. Or the neighbours saw something.
Wollongbar. !!!
Or Ballina, Byron Bay area.
Someone must remember something.

 

[mishy66]

The Crime Stoppers call was 2008 SL clarified this a year or 2 ago.