Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, June 1997 #14

[BonnieB]

Does anyone think Blum owns the whole building here and not just one apartment/shop/flat ......which is why he still has the Renov Pubs business going after all these years...?

Property on Realo

Want to know how much Rue des Francs 46, 1040 Etterbeek is worth? Or learn more about the neighbourhood? Discover it now on Realo!

www.realo.be

https://www.bedrijvenpagina.be/info/Etterbeek/Reclamebureaus/DE-HEDERVARY-Frederick/345237/e991203c

Let's start digging ......

 

[gymtonic]

I agree RB was/is an opportunist, small-time con-man. Although, as Renov was set up in 1968 and is continually renewed, it definitely has a use. Why would it continue to this day as a registered business?
There would have been many other frauds involving coins, antiques, paintings, cheques etc. and I think the women cons were just a sideline initially, probably for the thrill of manipulation, sex and opportunistic thefts. Then as his other swindles and frauds became increasingly more difficult due to improved technology, he honed in on the vulnerable women targets; ones with assets worth stealing. I'm sure there are many other victims overseas; MB would not have been his first and perhaps she wasn't the only one who mysteriously disappeared. You say...

There was so much time and energy spent on the vulnerable women, and the rewards were fairly minor or none at all. That says to me: petty criminal.

Well, I wouldn't say $160,000 was a minor profit in 1997 (equivalent to about $290,000 today) or $9,000 per week during his 8 month scam. GGB netted him $30,000 for about 3 weeks effort. JO was a dismal failure and actually cost him money but even the best con-men don't win every time.
The infamous Gilbert Chikli is said to have attempted to scam 150 victims with a hit rate of just 3; mind you, those 3 scored him millions.
So, I keep an open mind on Mr. AKA and his capabilities. I do believe he is capable of disposing of a threat and doing so successfully which makes him a very dangerous man; one not to be underestimated. IMO

I agree. IMO the arrests for petty crimes committed in his early days should be seen through the lens of just that…early days, starting out on a life of petty crime, learning the « craft », and liable to mistakes. At the same time though moving in petty crime circles puts him in touch with others and tends to drag people into bigger things. Those discoveries of his later years can be viewed the same..seen through the lens of declining years and having to adjust to those crimes that he can still do given his age. It’s the time in between, in his « prime » (if we can call it that) that is unknown, where there is no evidence of being arrested and discovered (as yet) but that is now hopefully being revealed with spotlight on it. All those trips for no apparent reason indicate something else, possibly bigger, possibly linked to OCG and different. It’s the pattern and connections that are being revealed. How that links to MB‘s disappearance may or may not be evident.

(PS As for the thread petering out, I am still following and investigating but there is nothing new to reveal or follow up from me)

 

[BonnieB]

Does anyone think Blum owns the whole building here and not just one apartment/shop/flat ......which is why he still has the Renov Pubs business going after all these years...?

Property on Realo

Want to know how much Rue des Francs 46, 1040 Etterbeek is worth? Or learn more about the neighbourhood? Discover it now on Realo!

www.realo.be

https://www.bedrijvenpagina.be/info/Etterbeek/Reclamebureaus/DE-HEDERVARY-Frederick/345237/e991203c

Hey mishy, do you think it's possible IF he did get a payout from some accident (horse or car) that he legitimately purchased an investment property? That would explain the steady stream of cash (from the accountant) every trip overseas.

 

[1965school]

Without looking back over notes does anyone remember the the business address of renov. Pubs is it the address above. Can anyone remember a post back before latest inquest that someone mentioned they say a MB lookalike in Belgium. It would be interesting where. Anywhere near address above. Another coincidence renov pubs started 1968? And address above was purchased on 1/10/68 by aka. Or am I a bit off track? Does anyone guess what I’m thinking without spelling it out? I wonder who lives there? I feel and have for a while that he owns the whole building, the links above confirm it in my mind.

 

[1965school]

Both address and renov.pubs commenced 1/10/68 and renov pubs is located at address above. hum hum!! I wonder what else he uses the building for?

 

[sah10406]

@mishy66 wrote "I have heard that the case has had very little publicity in the UK and that is so disappointing. There could potentially be dozens of women out there who have met AKA and have no idea about what he has done here in Australia." [Sorry can't reply-quote]

UK member here, and it's true. There will be people in the UK who knew DdH and AKA when they lived here, and people who met MB and JO during their visits. I am happy to be part of any off-board collective looking into any aspects of the UK connections to the case, if there is such a thing.

I had some private correspondence with SL just after the inquest, about immigration records of MB's visit to the UK. From my research, the actual landing cards are long gone, but a database appears to still exist. If the coroner establishes an open verdict, SL should be able to do a subject access request. Meanwhile, it would need to be a special outside-the-rules request.

<modsnip>

 

[BonnieB]

Does anyone think Blum owns the whole building here and not just one apartment/shop/flat ......which is why he still has the Renov Pubs business going after all these years...?

Property on Realo

Want to know how much Rue des Francs 46, 1040 Etterbeek is worth? Or learn more about the neighbourhood? Discover it now on Realo!

www.realo.be

https://www.bedrijvenpagina.be/info/Etterbeek/Reclamebureaus/DE-HEDERVARY-Frederick/345237/e991203c

I think he owns a portion of the property - 46B. From what I found there has been a 'body corporate' operating since 1958

ACP IMMEUBLE RESIDENCE PAGANINI A ETTERBEEK R VME - 0825.062.994 - Bruxelles (1040)

Consultez les données de ASSOC. COPROPRIET. IMMEUBLE RESIDENCE PAGANINI A ETTERBEEK RUE (0825.062.994) à Bruxelles (1040) ou d'autres sociétés du secteur Facility management.

trendstop-levif-be.translate.goog

Association des coproprietaires de l'immeuble "Residence Paganini" a Etterbeek, rue des Francs - 0825.062.994 - Belgium

Association des copropriétaires de l'immeuble "Résidence Paganini" à Etterbeek, rue des Francs Belgian company, Company number: 0825.062.994, Incorporation Date Aug 6, 1958;, Address: Frankenstraat S/N, 1040 Etterbeek

b2bhint-com.translate.goog

 

[BonnieB]

Does someone have the actual date of the Armidale CrimeStoppers tip please?

 

[dotr]

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/marion-barter-inquest-unravelling-shock-details-surrounding-schoolteacher-mums-disappearance-25yrs-ago/news-story/1a394b14f8920e93a1df45888f132891

<modsnip: Direct quotes or copy/paste of content or images from a paywalled article is a violation of copyright law>

 

[dotr]

Does someone have the actual date of the Armidale CrimeStoppers tip please?

Not sure if this link helps or not .. rbbm.

Missing Person Marion Barter​

October 18, 2019 ·

''This occurred to me yesterday!
Mum went missing in 1997 - last known location Grafton Northern NSW
The first magazine article I did was in 2004
Mum was only added to the NSW missing persons register in 2007 (not nationally)
I started the Facebook page - Missing Person Marion Barter in 2013
SO! How did the person who called Crime Stoppers in 2002 who said “a woman by the name Marion who went missing from Northern NSW was buried in bush land in Armidale” know she was missing?
If the case wasn’t publicized till 2004 how the hell did he know that a Marion was missing and last known to be at Grafton Northern NSW????????????????????????????
The said location in Armidale that the male gave to Crime Stoppers 100% needs to fully searched including SES and volunteers happy to help!
To think Det. Gary Sheehan found it on her file years later in 2010 and no one had previously acted on it! On my stars..... no words

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

@mishy66 wrote "I have heard that the case has had very little publicity in the UK and that is so disappointing. There could potentially be dozens of women out there who have met AKA and have no idea about what he has done here in Australia." [Sorry can't reply-quote]

UK member here, and it's true. There will be people in the UK who knew DdH and AKA when they lived here, and people who met MB and JO during their visits. I am happy to be part of any off-board collective looking into any aspects of the UK connections to the case, if there is such a thing.

I had some private correspondence with SL just after the inquest, about immigration records of MB's visit to the UK. From my research, the actual landing cards are long gone, but a database appears to still exist. If the coroner establishes an open verdict, SL should be able to do a subject access request. Meanwhile, it would need to be a special outside-the-rules request.

I see from her Missing Person Marion Barter Facebook Page that SL is taking an extended break from being the public face of the case. On the plus side, FWIW the Reddit thread on the podcast and case has recently come back to life.

I did come across the parish in Burwash where the kids were baptised puts out a newsletter and in that newsletter there was a piece written if any locals from the parish knew the family certainly not national media but I was happy to see it because of where it was placed.

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

Oops forgot to attach it

https://media.acny.uk/media/venues/page/attachment/2022/05/BVM_i39_April2022_36PPdigital.pdf

 

[BonnieB]

Not sure if this link helps or not .. rbbm.

Missing Person Marion Barter​

October 18, 2019 ·

''This occurred to me yesterday!
Mum went missing in 1997 - last known location Grafton Northern NSW
The first magazine article I did was in 2004
Mum was only added to the NSW missing persons register in 2007 (not nationally)
I started the Facebook page - Missing Person Marion Barter in 2013
SO! How did the person who called Crime Stoppers in 2002 who said “a woman by the name Marion who went missing from Northern NSW was buried in bush land in Armidale” know she was missing?
If the case wasn’t publicized till 2004 how the hell did he know that a Marion was missing and last known to be at Grafton Northern NSW????????????????????????????
The said location in Armidale that the male gave to Crime Stoppers 100% needs to fully searched including SES and volunteers happy to help!
To think Det. Gary Sheehan found it on her file years later in 2010 and no one had previously acted on it! On my stars..... no words

Thanks @dotr - this call to Crime Stoppers has always intrigued me because it was made years before Marion's disappearance became known publicly. IMO the information given to police was a 'red herring' but the fact that someone knew Marion was missing and possibly deceased in 2002 is interesting.
Did LE thoroughly investigate who might have had access to the phone used to make the call? I doubt it. Was there any link between the occupants of that house and any of the RB's family, friends or acquaintances? Where were the occupants on the day the call was made and was the house unlocked? All very suspicious IMO; someone knew something and it's probably way too long ago now to find any answers.

 

[KiwiNZ]

Thanks @dotr - this call to Crime Stoppers has always intrigued me because it was made years before Marion's disappearance became known publicly. IMO the information given to police was a 'red herring' but the fact that someone knew Marion was missing and possibly deceased in 2002 is interesting.
Did LE thoroughly investigate who might have had access to the phone used to make the call? I doubt it. Was there any link between the occupants of that house and any of the RB's family, friends or acquaintances? Where were the occupants on the day the call was made and was the house unlocked? All very suspicious IMO; someone knew something and it's probably way too long ago now to find any answers.

posted by Peralta - March 2022

I remember as well the date been updated to 2008 by SL

 

[BonnieB]

posted by Peralta - March 2022

I remember as well the date been updated to 2008 by SL

View attachment 349066

Thanks for that, I had both dates in my timeline but the same questions remain. 2008 was before Sally's fb page and before the podcast, so unless the MALE caller was a reader of the Women's Weekly, there was little chance of him knowing about Marion. Why would he go to such lengths to call from an elderly couple's phone? It still has me intrigued.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Twist in 'The Lady Vanishes' case 25 years after she went missing

A coronial inquest has heard a Queensland school teacher who disappeared 25 years ago had a mystery boyfriend who previously fleeced a number of different women.

www.dailymail.co.uk

"
In 2002, a man called Crime Stoppers claiming he had seen the body of a missing woman called Marion in bushland in Armidale, NSW.

Seven years later, Detective Gary Sheehan attended the location with a police dog - but no body was located"

 

[BonnieB]

Twist in 'The Lady Vanishes' case 25 years after she went missing

A coronial inquest has heard a Queensland school teacher who disappeared 25 years ago had a mystery boyfriend who previously fleeced a number of different women.

www.dailymail.co.uk

"
In 2002, a man called Crime Stoppers claiming he had seen the body of a missing woman called Marion in bushland in Armidale, NSW.

Seven years later, Detective Gary Sheehan attended the location with a police dog - but no body was located"

No wonder I had two dates in my timeline, so confusing!

 

[sah10406]

Oops forgot to attach it

https://media.acny.uk/media/venues/page/attachment/2022/05/BVM_i39_April2022_36PPdigital.pdf

Thanks! Here's a clipped copy of the specific article and the source cover. It's also quite interesting to browse the whole magazine and get a snapshot of the village in general.

I wonder if Paul Kent is a websleuth and whether anyone from Burwash has contacted him. Shame that the magazine didn't include his email address as he hoped. I think people are more inclined to email not call.

 

[mishy66]

Without looking back over notes does anyone remember the the business address of renov. Pubs is it the address above. Can anyone remember a post back before latest inquest that someone mentioned they say a MB lookalike in Belgium. It would be interesting where. Anywhere near address above. Another coincidence renov pubs started 1968? And address above was purchased on 1/10/68 by aka. Or am I a bit off track? Does anyone guess what I’m thinking without spelling it out? I wonder who lives there? I feel and have for a while that he owns the whole building, the links above confirm it in my mind.

IF you do a search you will find all the info

 

[mishy66]

I did come across the parish in Burwash where the kids were baptised puts out a newsletter and in that newsletter there was a piece written if any locals from the parish knew the family certainly not national media but I was happy to see it because of where it was placed.

Yes but unfortunately the case need media publicity to reach all areas of that corner.

There has been barely anything that has remained in the spotlight in regards to Blum and Marions disappearance. WHO KNOWS how many "Marions" are out there.