Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, June 1997 #13

[Deleted member 249471]

The only other reason I can think for the name change is that Marion wanted to reveal her relationship and plans to her family. So he needed to invent a story of why they needed to be discrete. Which was... their lives were in danger. And Marion might've said, 'but going overseas doesn't change that, they'll still find us with out names.' So he changed her name to his 'safe id'.

OR

RB has assets overseas in the FNR name that are too dangerous for him to access (or he was intending to steal from real FR). So he sent Marion over to collect them, then stole all her Aus assets... Two birds, one stone?

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

IMO

Yes he was clearly in love with MC (as much as a psychopath can love) he had grandiose ideas of sailing off into the sunset with her. She was married to a footballer, and she had been an actress (to him a bit of fame) all things that would appeal to his ego. Being with her made him feel important. But ultimately she left him.

Do I think his obsession for MC is what has drawn him to Marion (ex footballers wife and teacher) no I don’t. Do I think as a few have mentioned that this has led him to want to re-create a version of MC in MB nope I don’t. 100% he is delusional with his fantasies of him and MC bring his ‘best friend’ she sounds lovely so I suspect after it ended she didn’t cut all ties and perhaps it was a friendly break up.. therefore he still believed he had a chance and they were friends. His ego and grandiose mind would never believed she didn’t want him.

the women in Australia all had either assets or money. That was his motivation.

He clearly feels inferior so he seeks people that can give him the lifestyle he believes he deserves.

I am not sure about Le Courier and MB replying mainly due to the fact it is a French paper that someone would seek out only because they speak French fluently which Marion didn’t.

I think the Article about teacher of the year spiked curiosity and from there he has checked out Marion out.. which has most likely led him to an ‘accidental randomly planned’ meeting at the arts centre. MC also said their meeting was random. She met him at a coffee shop.

I believe this started late 96 (she had decided to travel OS and told her parents at Christmas time) perhaps the decision to travel OS had actually been made earlier hence the renewal of her MB passport.

Suddenly she meets a man, he does his psycho love bombing and she falls for him badly. He promises a new life together.. he tells her he is living with his wife but their marriage is over so she doesn’t believe he is married in the true sense. Therefore continues the relationship.

He comes up with the name of Florabella his ‘pet’ name for her.

they secretly plan their new life together. He will travel OS and will leave his wife, she will continue her travels plans they will meet up outside of Australia.

Something happens OS and he leaves.. (most likely money related) she panics, loves him and follows him back to declare her love. (Narcissistic behaviour - creates a drama, gaslights her, leaves and she think it’s her fault so follows him back to fix it)

they meet up soon after she lands and all is well. Marion withdraws the money

A joint account is set up. Using his FNR ID and MB’s passport. The account is in the name of F Remakel or Mr F N & Mrs F N Remakel.

marion starts to question almost immediately when can they now go back to Europe/ Luxembourg (not UK)

Each day she hassles more…he eventually says he’s not leaving his wife…all money is removed she realises she’s been played. And loses it.
Something terrible happens.

the safety deposit envelope holds new bank account details in Remakel name.

the final $60k is MB withdrawing as I don’t believe DDH has the nerve to be involved and I honestly don’t think she knew anything of MB at that time. Nor do I think he is stupid enough to bring in an accomplice to share the profit.

Just another theory IMO

Many interesting ideas there for consideration.

I don't actually think RB is a psychopath - psychopaths are devoid of finer emotion, literally have a part of their brain function missing, and enjoy being sadistically cruel and harmful to those they perceive as inferior. They will literally kill in order to dominate and be top dog and feel not a shred of anxiety about it. They make ruthless businessmen and politicians as they care not one jot for the welfare of employees or entire populations, harm to the environment, harms caused by war, or the losses incurred to investors if a company fails. The three Ps of Psychopaths = Power / Profit / Prestige.

I believe RB has Narcissistic Personality Disorder with comorbid criminal and antisocial tendencies. The three Es of NPD = Empathy (lack of), Exploitative, Entitled.

Narcissist do not have a core authentic self, they simply have numerous shifting 'false selves' and at their very core they have a secret sense of inferiority and feelings of worthlessness (untermenschen), guilt, and shame, can trigger them into rage. You can never pin them down or hold them accountable, there is no one real identity - their psyche fragmented at a pre-verbal age due to extreme childhood abuse. They are also liable to be extremely paranoid and suspicious as they know something is fundamentally wrong with them and they are unlovable and don't feel true love for anyone. They have romantic obsessions and can often stalk people. They think hierarchically and admire famous or successful people whilst demeaning those 'below' them.

Narcs don't have the bits missing that psychopaths do so they can play on other's emotions in a way that doesn't involve using brutal dominance to force submission. They play cat and mouse games with people. They think 'what's yours is mine' and have no compunction in taking what's yours. They are parasitic and often never hold paid employment, preferring to live off welfare or off the back of family / partners. If held accountable with no way to avoid (such as court cases with 100% evidence and proof of guilt), Narcissists can and will end their own life. They are highly prone to successful suicide when 'narcissistic collapse' happens. For this reason, RB is a suicide risk right now.

 

[KateM]

IMO

Yes he was clearly in love with MC (as much as a psychopath can love) he had grandiose ideas of sailing off into the sunset with her. She was married to a footballer, and she had been an actress (to him a bit of fame) all things that would appeal to his ego. Being with her made him feel important. But ultimately she left him.

Do I think his obsession for MC is what has drawn him to Marion (ex footballers wife and teacher) no I don’t. Do I think as a few have mentioned that this has led him to want to re-create a version of MC in MB nope I don’t. 100% he is delusional with his fantasies of him and MC bring his ‘best friend’ she sounds lovely so I suspect after it ended she didn’t cut all ties and perhaps it was a friendly break up.. therefore he still believed he had a chance and they were friends. His ego and grandiose mind would never believed she didn’t want him.

the women in Australia all had either assets or money. That was his motivation.

He clearly feels inferior so he seeks people that can give him the lifestyle he believes he deserves.

I am not sure about Le Courier and MB replying mainly due to the fact it is a French paper that someone would seek out only because they speak French fluently which Marion didn’t.

I think the Article about teacher of the year spiked curiosity and from there he has checked out Marion out.. which has most likely led him to an ‘accidental randomly planned’ meeting at the arts centre. MC also said their meeting was random. She met him at a coffee shop.

I believe this started late 96 (she had decided to travel OS and told her parents at Christmas time) perhaps the decision to travel OS had actually been made earlier hence the renewal of her MB passport.

Suddenly she meets a man, he does his psycho love bombing and she falls for him badly. He promises a new life together.. he tells her he is living with his wife but their marriage is over so she doesn’t believe he is married in the true sense. Therefore continues the relationship.

He comes up with the name of Florabella his ‘pet’ name for her.

they secretly plan their new life together. He will travel OS and will leave his wife, she will continue her travels plans they will meet up outside of Australia.

Something happens OS and he leaves.. (most likely money related) she panics, loves him and follows him back to declare her love. (Narcissistic behaviour - creates a drama, gaslights her, leaves and she think it’s her fault so follows him back to fix it)

they meet up soon after she lands and all is well. Marion withdraws the money

A joint account is set up. Using his FNR ID and MB’s passport. The account is in the name of F Remakel or Mr F N & Mrs F N Remakel.

marion starts to question almost immediately when can they now go back to Europe/ Luxembourg (not UK)

Each day she hassles more…he eventually says he’s not leaving his wife…all money is removed she realises she’s been played. And loses it.
Something terrible happens.

the safety deposit envelope holds new bank account details in Remakel name.

the final $60k is MB withdrawing as I don’t believe DDH has the nerve to be involved and I honestly don’t think she knew anything of MB at that time. Nor do I think he is stupid enough to bring in an accomplice to share the profit.

Just another theory IMO

People on this thread keep saying that RB truly loved MC.

 

[KateM]

People on this thread keep saying that RB truly loved MC. He didn't. I had a 20 year relationship and a child to a narcissist. They are incapable of love. RB was obsessed with MC. His grandiosity was at play here. She will always be on his pedestal...

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

He thought her money was in UK?

Did he think she had transferred the entire amount of her house sale to the UK ?

Also, something I wonder about a lot -

Is it possible RB knew someone who knew Marion quite well? He seems like a person who would know a lot of people - Narcs go around 'networking' quite literally everywhere they go, they don't make friends, they make vast maps of people resources. RB seems like someone who would have known everyone what with his fingers in so many pies.

By the way Narcs *always* and without fail, save their covert abuse for their closest interpersonal intimate relationship. They always keep a 'whipping boy' in order to regulate their internal equilibrium. It's done in secret and without any doubt whatsoever, if RB is, as I suggest, someone with NPD, then his wife Dianne will have been psychologically abused to within an inch of her life and wouldn't know which way is up any more.

MOO

 

[gymtonic]

Theories update
1. Marion answered Le Courrier ad, he stalked her and waited until she was single.
2. He randomly stole her wallet OR was given info about her from bank or real estate and then stole her wallet.
3. He saw her award in the paper and became obsessed due to similarities with MC.
4. He met her through arts centre or school, either randomly or was tipped off.

Love your thinking @Peralta ...Just a couple of comments in Red
Theories update
1. Marion answered Le Courrier ad, he stalked her and waited until she was single. IMO this one is unlikely because by Dec 1994 MB was Queensland based, did not speak French or was not a Francophile (enough to seek out a subscription to Le Courier). I do speak French and am a Francophile, but I didn't know about Le Courier because it was a print based, Sydney based paper. IMO he placed ads in multiple papers for different "targets" (and we just haven't found any others in other aliases or the others don't use any names). Le Courier ad was to attract a Sydney based, Francophone "targets" and maybe he didn't get many "hits". I thought it was AC who first asked about whether he had placed ads in The Gold Coast Bulletin which made me wonder whether they had found something suspicious but with no name or no known alias?
2. He randomly stole her wallet OR was given info about her from bank or real estate and then stole her wallet. IMO the wallet may be a red herring and just something that unfortunately happens randomly. It was a few years before as you said, and doesn't appear to be linked to any other use apart from the Service Station at the time? However links with a bank employee is very possible, as it is part of his MO.
3. He saw her award in the paper and became obsessed due to similarities with MC. This is the one I like following the last 3 days testimony. I wasn't convinced one way or the other before but the letter to MC swayed me.
4. He met her through arts centre or school, either randomly or was tipped off. IMO an art centre meeting could be linked with your theory 3 above, so not such a random meet but followed on from newspaper and possibly engineering a meeting? Maybe he saw MB at the art centre before the award announcement in the paper. Did MB go to the art centre frequently?

 

[Estelle]

Yep I'm trying to figure this out myself.

So, with JO he wanted her out of the way whilst he 'took' her house.

Working on the same method, he wanted Marion out of the way whilst he 'took' her money.

So, maybe it's blindingly obvious?

With JO, she did not follow instruction to take a flight at a later date, and thwarted RB by coming home early. Albeit accidentally. Insofar as she hadn't seen through him, despite her cousin (I think it was) had suspicions, she did not.

With Marion, she did not thwart his plan, accidentally or on purpose, she did not return early. The money was taken, nobody knows by whom, and nobody has ever seen Marion again. We do not have any proof she returned to Aus.

Maybe that's the logic. His plan worked. He came back and took her money whilst someone - who? - 'dealt with' Marion in the UK.

The clue to unpicking that would be examining / scrutinising EXACTLY the minutiae of where exactly did RB leave JO in the UK? what did he tell her to do? where did he tell her to go? what instructions did he leave her with?

Was RB planning to leave JO alone in the UK and totally disappear, leaving her alive and well but somewhat stranded on the other side of the world? Or did he have some fate 'arranged' for her? If so, what? Did he suggest JO some contacts or places to stay or companions or any type of instruction whatsoever? Because those are the clues.

Did RB think he could strand Marion in the UK, drain her bank account, and just disappear, leaving her alive and well and able to tell the tale, return to Aus, report to the police and bank detectives, all of whom could try to track him down somehow and then she could identify him? I suspect not. How realistic would that be?

Therefore, he possibly has at least one accomplice. A female accomplice, or a couple, who 'dealt with' Marion in the UK and then the female travelled on her passport? The Dutch Dentist and 'Maz'?

JO is a very very lucky to be alive woman.

Also, something that crosses my mind whilst pondering all this - as RB has possibly simultaneously held numerous identities and passports (fake or real), we don't know if it is even him who travelled back into Aus on his own passport in the July, if you see what I mean. Even that cannot be truly depended upon as a definite fact.

This is also my theory. Thanks for posting.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

People on this thread keep saying that RB truly loved MC. He didn't. I had a 20 year relationship and a child to a narcissist. They are incapable of love. RB was obsessed with MC. His grandiosity was at play here. She will always be on his pedestal...

Totally agree. They have shifting obsessions. They even believe that someone else's amazing qualities are their own. Because they are literally delusional. If they acquire an object of their obsession, they assume they now have the qualities of that person, it pumps up their ego and shortly they go looking for the next thing they want. By default, one cannot ever be in a relationship with a Narc - it's love-bombing - if the love-bombing is unrequited it becomes obsession. If the love-bombing 'works', that person is quickly devalued, abused, discarded. One can be kept around by a Narc ONLY if one 'agrees' to be relentlessly abused forever, facilitate their lifestyle, and not complain about them running off with other women.

 

[KateM]

Many interesting ideas there for consideration.

I don't actually think RB is a psychopath - psychopaths are devoid of finer emotion, literally have a part of their brain function missing, and enjoy being sadistically cruel and harmful to those they perceive as inferior. They will literally kill in order to dominate and be top dog and feel not a shred of anxiety about it. They make ruthless businessmen and politicians as they care not one jot for the welfare of employees or entire populations, harm to the environment, harms caused by war, or the losses incurred to investors if a company fails. The three Ps of Psychopaths = Power / Profit / Prestige.

I believe RB has Narcissistic Personality Disorder with comorbid criminal and antisocial tendencies. The three Es of NPD = Empathy (lack of), Exploitative, Entitled.

Narcissist do not have a core authentic self, they simply have numerous shifting 'false selves' and at their very core they have a secret sense of inferiority and feelings of worthlessness (untermenschen), guilt, and shame, can trigger them into rage. You can never pin them down or hold them accountable, there is no one real identity - their psyche fragmented at a pre-verbal age due to extreme childhood abuse. They are also liable to be extremely paranoid and suspicious as they know something is fundamentally wrong with them and they are unlovable and don't feel true love for anyone. They have romantic obsessions and can often stalk people. They think hierarchically and admire famous or successful people whilst demeaning those 'below' them.

Narcs don't have the bits missing that psychopaths do so they can play on other's emotions in a way that doesn't involve using brutal dominance to force submission. They play cat and mouse games with people. They think 'what's yours is mine' and have no compunction in taking what's yours. They are parasitic and often never hold paid employment, preferring to live off welfare or off the back of family / partners. If held accountable with no way to avoid (such as court cases with 100% evidence and proof of guilt), Narcissists can and will end their own life. They are highly prone to successful suicide when 'narcissistic collapse' happens. For this reason, RB is a suicide risk right now.

You have an excellent understanding of the narcissist, but I think only a psychiatrist could diagnose whether or not RB is also a psychopath. Regardless they both share many similar traits and they both destroy peoples lives.

 

[ruby925]

You're right. Planning a trip o/s is necessary to get her to sell house (and have money in bank), quit school and pack up her belongings. But is it necessary to actually go o/s?

Yes, one theory is he took her overseas intending to leave her there, so he could return to withdraw her money in Aus, and do whatever he did with her valuables, then disappear back to his dH family life in Ballina.

It's the same as what he did with JO except the assets are in a different form (bank money instead of title deeds). The concept of getting them out of the way and o/s, and leaving them stranded while he stripped them of their life is the same, I think.

Yet it doesn't explain why he made Marion change her name.
This is bonkers but no one has mentioned it before, so what if...

RB needs to have access to Marion's birth certificate and passport in order to have ID for the bank withdrawals, especially the big $80k one?
Marion already renewed her passport mid 1996, so that won't work.
So he invented a reason for Marion to change her name so he could get hold of all her IDs?
Remember JO said she gave RB all her documents and he handled her passport renewal process?
I don't know. I hope that make sense

Except that MB's bank accounts were not changed to her FNMR name at that point, so were inaccessible to her in UK and anyone but MB in Australia?

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

Many interesting ideas there for consideration.

I don't actually think RB is a psychopath - psychopaths are devoid of finer emotion, literally have a part of their brain function missing, and enjoy being sadistically cruel and harmful to those they perceive as inferior. They will literally kill in order to dominate and be top dog and feel not a shred of anxiety about it. They make ruthless businessmen and politicians as they care not one jot for the welfare of employees or entire populations, harm to the environment, harms caused by war, or the losses incurred to investors if a company fails. The three Ps of Psychopaths = Power / Profit / Prestige.

I believe RB has Narcissistic Personality Disorder with comorbid criminal and antisocial tendencies. The three Es of NPD = Empathy (lack of), Exploitative, Entitled.

Narcissist do not have a core authentic self, they simply have numerous shifting 'false selves' and at their very core they have a secret sense of inferiority and feelings of worthlessness (untermenschen), guilt, and shame, can trigger them into rage. You can never pin them down or hold them accountable, there is no one real identity - their psyche fragmented at a pre-verbal age due to extreme childhood abuse. They are also liable to be extremely paranoid and suspicious as they know something is fundamentally wrong with them and they are unlovable and don't feel true love for anyone. They have romantic obsessions and can often stalk people. They think hierarchically and admire famous or successful people whilst demeaning those 'below' them.

Narcs don't have the bits missing that psychopaths do so they can play on other's emotions in a way that doesn't involve using brutal dominance to force submission. They play cat and mouse games with people. They think 'what's yours is mine' and have no compunction in taking what's yours. They are parasitic and often never hold paid employment, preferring to live off welfare or off the back of family / partners. If held accountable with no way to avoid (such as court cases with 100% evidence and proof of guilt), Narcissists can and will end their own life. They are highly prone to successful suicide when 'narcissistic collapse' happens. For this reason, RB is a suicide risk right now.

I have no doubt he is a psychopath see my post page 53 of this thread. He possesses most of the traits of a psychopath. ‘They will literally kill’ in order to be top dog actually no not all psychopaths are killers JMO

 

[KateM]

Totally agree. They have shifting obsessions. They even believe that someone else's amazing qualities are their own. Because they are literally delusional. If they acquire an object of their obsession, they assume they now have the qualities of that person, it pumps up their ego and shortly they go looking for the next thing they want. By default, one cannot ever be in a relationship with a Narc - it's love-bombing - if the love-bombing is unrequited it becomes obsession. If the love-bombing 'works', that person is quickly devalued, abused, discarded. One can be kept around by a Narc ONLY if one 'agrees' to be relentlessly abused forever, facilitate their lifestyle, and not complain about them running off with other women.

Exactly. It's like the way that RB has mentioned famous people frequently at the Inquest, like the Beatles and Rudolph Nureyev. He has also visited locations that connect him with some of these people, to elevate his status in his own mind. He's a textbook narcissist of the highest order.

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

You have an excellent understanding of the narcissist, but I think only a psychiatrist could diagnose whether or not RB is also a psychopath. Regardless they both share many similar traits and they both destroy peoples lives.

So true the traits are extremely similar in both

 

[Estelle]

You're right. Planning a trip o/s is necessary to get her to sell house (and have money in bank), quit school and pack up her belongings. But is it necessary to actually go o/s?

Yes, one theory is he took her overseas intending to leave her there, so he could return to withdraw her money in Aus, and do whatever he did with her valuables, then disappear back to his dH family life in Ballina.

It's the same as what he did with JO except the assets are in a different form (bank money instead of title deeds). The concept of getting them out of the way and o/s, and leaving them stranded while he stripped them of their life is the same, I think.

Yet it doesn't explain why he made Marion change her name.
This is bonkers but no one has mentioned it before, so what if...

RB needs to have access to Marion's birth certificate and passport in order to have ID for the bank withdrawals, especially the big $80k one?
Marion already renewed her passport mid 1996, so that won't work.
So he invented a reason for Marion to change her name so he could get hold of all her IDs?
Remember JO said she gave RB all her documents and he handled her passport renewal process?
I don't know. I hope that make sense

Yes did the dentist really witness MB's passport application or did RB sign it saying he was the dentist as it's never checked.

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

People on this thread keep saying that RB truly loved MC. He didn't. I had a 20 year relationship and a child to a narcissist. They are incapable of love. RB was obsessed with MC. His grandiosity was at play here. She will always be on his pedestal...

He loved in ‘his’ mind… which is absolutely nothing like love to the majority of the population.

 

[KateM]

I have no doubt he is a psychopath see my post page 53 of this thread. He possesses most of the traits of a psychopath. ‘They will literally kill’ in order to be top dog actually no not all psychopaths are killers JMO

I agree with you. I think he's also a psychopath, as well as a narcissist. Psychopaths, unlike sociopaths, plan and RB plans his devious actions...

 

[Itsapuzzle]

Spontaneous random thought. In the inquest RB says he told Marion he needed to end this charade because he was married with two children. This I don't get. Marion was going overseas for a year or more, err, wouldn't that be enough, she'd be gone overseas? Absolutely no need to say he needs to end this charade.
Add to that, she wouldn't have known where he lived, never seen his car, didn't know his real name, no phone number .... good grief.
PS: One question they omitted to ask at the inquest - "Mr Blum, are there fairies living at the bottom of your garden?"

 

[KateM]

This is also my theory. Thanks for posting.

If your theory is right, why would RB or an accomplice risk using MB's Medicare card in NSW?

 

[Deleted member 249471]

If your theory is right, why would RB or an accomplice risk using MB's Medicare card in NSW?

To give additional 'proof' she returned to the country, withdrew her own money and chose to turn away from her family forever.

Rather than someone else draining her accounts. IMO

 

[KateM]

To give additional 'proof' she returned to the country, withdrew her own money and chose to turn away from her family forever.

If someone else did use her card, it makes you think it would have been a female, or else someone using her Medicare number, without her card.