Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, Jun 1997 #4

[Deleted member 249471]

Inquest Day Six

Missing teacher seemed 'happy, content', by Luke Costin, AAP

Sally was the main witness today.

"She seemed very happy and content," Sally told the inquest. In late 1996 or early 1997, Marion began to speak about a staff member causing her a lot of grief. "I felt they got on very well and then something happened."

Sally is unsure what it was, or if it was the catalyst for her mother upending her life.

Marion sold her Southport home, put her possessions in storage and told family she would return in a year or find work in England.

Sally's accepted "in hindsight" that her mother had not been open about what was going on in her life.

Sally described her mother as somewhat naive, easily influenced when in love and "the kind of person who didn't like being on her own".

 

[Brissie Sleuth]

If it were me, I'd check land title records for beachfront properties on Main Beach bought in 1997. Marion mentioned buying there as a reason for selling her house. Are there any links to the Remakel at Trenwest?

would marion buy a property so close to relatives if she intended to disappear? unlikely! even if it was under a different name.

 

[Loxoli]

would marion buy a property so close to relatives if she intended to disappear? unlikely! even if it was under a different name.

I think it’s still a possibility that Marion didn’t disappear by her own choice. It’s possible that she thought she was coming back all along, or that she was only planning to disappear temporarily and was going to come back eventually.

 

[Brissie Sleuth]

not sure if this article was already posted but i found it interesting that they were hoping to establish dna from marions post card Could castle help end mystery of The Lady Vanishes?

 

[Estelle]

Has it really been established yet whether it was really Marion who returned to Australia?

"Tonbridge could be crucial to solving the mystery of what happened to Marion Barter."

"There's always the chance that Marion stayed in Tonbridge or around that area and started a new life, that's one possibility.

Could castle help end mystery of The Lady Vanishes?

I have always thought that Marion's life ended there.

 

[Loxoli]

I think it’s still a possibility that Marion didn’t disappear by her own choice. It’s possible that she thought she was coming back all along, or that she was only planning to disappear temporarily and was going to come back eventually.

Just throwing out a theory that fits this scenario. Let’s say that Marion was madly in love and coerced into doing the name change and moving overseas. She could have been suspicious after arriving overseas, or was asked to do something she didn’t want to, like hand over her money. She could have escaped her scammer, flew back to Australia, and withdrew her money to buy a house or to keep it safe. She might not have told anyone because she was embarrassed and thought she could manage it on her own. The scammer or an Australian associate could have then tracked her down and that’s when she met with foul play. They could have then walked away with her cash and remained silent all this time.

JMO, but I think a similar theory might have been discussed on here before and that’s where I got it from.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

You're right, not Marion. I keep thinking this is how her money was funnelled out of the country. You just walk on a plane with $80,000 or wire it overseas. So where is it? One theory is that whoever she was with withdrew her money and bought a property, and used it as collateral in property investment scams, that seem to surround this case.

Marion mentioning wanting to sell and buy on Main Beach was Marion already being seduced into the con.

would marion buy a property so close to relatives if she intended to disappear? unlikely! even if it was under a different name.

 

[Loxoli]

Has it really been established yet whether it was really Marion who returned to Australia?

"Tonbridge could be crucial to solving the mystery of what happened to Marion Barter."

"There's always the chance that Marion stayed in Tonbridge or around that area and started a new life, that's one possibility.

Could castle help end mystery of The Lady Vanishes?

I have always thought that Marion's life ended there.

I don’t believe that it has been established yet that it really was Marion. I think the closest that we have to a conclusion on this is the handwriting expert featured on the podcast that examined the passenger card.

 

[Brissie Sleuth]

I think it’s still a possibility that Marion didn’t disappear by her own choice. It’s possible that she thought she was coming back all along, or that she was only planning to disappear temporarily and was going to come back eventually.

agree…so little concrete info to go off.

 

[Itsapuzzle]

So bummed the Optometrist couldn't elaborate in any way.

To recap, Marion's medicare card was used 13 August 1997 at an optometrist in Grafton Shoppingworld.
The optometrist, Dean M Evans, believes he would have written extensive consultation notes on the back of Marion's form with her name, birth date and contact details. The form would have remained at the practice until archived. But the business was sold about 10 years ago and he has no idea what happened to the records.

Additionally, records in Australia are allowed to be destroyed after 7 years and are often done so, especially if the customer has never returned or used their file again.

Gah, so frustrating

Oh boy ....... the optometrist's evidence didn't quite turn out the way we'd imagined, hey! Was hoping for a bit more than "no idea", "can't remember", "don't know what happened to the records". Totally agree with your "Gah" there Peralta. Total bummer. Ah well, here's hoping there will be some leads from the deed poll application.
Your recaps are wonderful, thank you

 

[Itsapuzzle]

Here is the marriage certificate for the 7 July 1997

Thanks for putting this up Lord Peter Flimsy, really interesting .... having a look around to see if there's a link ..... good on ya, most exellent sleuthing.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

I mentioned days ago that the expert thought it could be Marion's handwriting, but I think there were two experts interviewed and the result was inconclusive? Maybe someone can clarify? I'll post all the handwriting samples now... let me know what you think

Basically, Sally said Marion had a few different styles of writing, like most of us! Super tidy at school and when she had time, cursive when hurried, and occasionally in capitals.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Marion's handwriting samples #1

Some items on the 1997 passenger cards are inconsistent with the writing on the rest of the card and clearly NOT Marion's. Everyone agrees that it is likely the customs official that filled those in.

For example,

On the outgoing card: female tick, crossing out Europe and replacing it with Luxembourg spelled incorrectly, crossing out Europe and replacing it with S/Korea.

On the incoming card: passport number and married tick.

 

[Deleted member 249471]

Marion's handwriting samples #2

 

[Loxoli]

Marion's handwriting samples #1

I’m not an expert in the slightest, but I do see differences on both the Florabella passenger cards. Do we know if LE has ever consulted their own handwriting expert?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I found myself getting angry today that so much time went by before it was taken seriously as a missing person case.

I was so angry I had a little swear to myself and I was shaking.

And that's me, a stranger.

Imagine how Sally must feel.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Yes I do too.

I’m not an expert in the slightest, but I do see significant differences on the Florabella passenger card.

 

[sunnybree]

Y

I mentioned days ago that the expert thought it could be Marion's handwriting, but I think there were two experts interviewed and the result was inconclusive? Maybe someone can clarify? I'll post all the handwriting samples now... let me know what you think

Basically, Sally said Marion had a few different styles of writing, like most of us! Super tidy at school and when she had time, cursive when hurried, and occasionally in capitals.

Yeah I thought on the podcast the experts said it was “likely” Marion. That might not be something the experts would be prepared to swear to in court though.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I think he should have gone to Specsavers

Oh boy ....... the optometrist's evidence didn't quite turn out the way we'd imagined, hey! Was hoping for a bit more than "no idea", "can't remember", "don't know what happened to the records".

 

[sunnybree]

Y

I mentioned days ago that the expert thought it could be Marion's handwriting, but I think there were two experts interviewed and the result was inconclusive? Maybe someone can clarify? I'll post all the handwriting samples now... let me know what you think

Basically, Sally said Marion had a few different styles of writing, like most of us! Super tidy at school and when she had time, cursive when hurried, and occasionally in capitals.

Yeah I thought on the podcast the experts said it was “likely” Marion. That might not be something the experts would be prepared to swear to in court though.

I would be very distressed if I were Sally. If it had been investigated properly at the beginning it may have been quite easy to track Marion down. I know a lot is being changed in regards to how missing person enquiries are conducted but it’s sad to think of families who have suffered in the meantime.