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

[katwingbat]

Perhaps Marion was upset that Sally hadn’t deposited the car money, not because she wanted the money from Sally, but because she needed to keep the accounts under her Marion B name until Sally made the deposit so as not to raise concerns with Sally. After the car $ had been deposited, Marion would have been free to change the account name to Florabella Remakel name. Perhaps she was frustrated at Sally because she was under pressure by RB to change the account name.

 

[katwingbat]

sorry I didn’t know how to remove a double post so just deleted it

 

[BonnieB]

Re the latest podcast.
I take it to mean that none of the amazing sleuthing here played any part at all in finding Mr Blum ?
I'm kind of surprised.

It sounded like that. Perhaps we are all wasting our time researching and trying to help.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

And what was behind RB wanting someone years later to go blonde.
There had to be a reason, and I don't believe that it was because of MC.

Unless he wanted someone to be the unwitting participant to a scam.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

In my opinion.
Ideas from this thread are sometimes nowhere to be seen online, yet within an hour or two of being posted here, they suddenly turn up on other sites, Facebook etc.

So no, let's not give up.

 

[MrsWattle]

So, it comes down to two schools of thought;

1. Marion was alive on 13th August - 5 days before she began to withdraw her money.
2. Marion was deceased on 13th August - and the money began to be withdrawn from her account by a female accomplice on 18th August at Byron Bay.

If the police believe it to be the latter, WHO are they investigating as the accomplice?

Indeed, BonnieB, I agree

IMO There must have been accomplices to assist him, even going along with his fantasy lies and deception, turning a blind eye is wicked.
It's infuriating that he had a flock of female victims and methodically tried to fleece everyone of them.
Possibly with accomplices doing as they were told, he is a master manipulator. Motive is money and the adrenaline of each chase.
The stolen wallet with cctv footage of someone similar looking to Marion needs to be scrutinized.

Step forward anonymously if you have information.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I'm not ruling out anything to do with drugs.

The letting someone else, especially one you haven't known for long take possession of your bag or ask you to leave it somewhere, ie airport, could either be to get hold of your ID stuff, or plant something, then dump you, and you were supposed to go back and get your bag and come home alone. Much later due to "no flights"
So far nothing seems to have turned up about a drug connection so it's most likely not that.
It's just to take everything you can from your victims.

I don't know how some people can live with themselves

 

[BonnieB]

In my opinion.
Ideas from this thread are sometimes nowhere to be seen online, yet within an hour or two of being posted here, they suddenly turn up on other sites, Facebook etc.

So no, let's not give up.

It's rather disheartening when that happens. I suppose it depends why we are doing this in the first place; to help or to gain popularity.

 

[KiwiNZ]

Perhaps Marion was upset that Sally hadn’t deposited the car money, not because she wanted the money from Sally, but because she needed to keep the accounts under her Marion B name until Sally made the deposit so as not to raise concerns with Sally. After the car $ had been deposited, Marion would have been free to change the account name to Florabella Remakel name. Perhaps she was frustrated at Sally because she was under pressure by RB to change the account name.

Great thinking Katwingbat

 

[mishy66]

Re the latest podcast.
I take it to mean that none of the amazing sleuthing here played any part at all in finding Mr Blum ?
I'm kind of surprised. :/

Pretty much.

That is the 2nd time it has been mentioned that everyone else was useless and that all info came from one person and a few 'supers'.

Maybe we should all help out on another thread as they seem to have it all covered over at TLV
....although I have noticed that some theories said here have gone up on FB later on too lol

 

[Nnbee]

I kinda assumed all the things that were found here was probably already found by LE and because they had access to the BOE, the TLV team would of already known what was discovered here.
I also kinda thought they didn’t read this thread either because there are a lot of opinions.
I also thought RB didn’t read here either. I think I’m just naive.

Also edit to add I didn’t follow TLV Facebook page until a few days ago so not sure what goes on there.

 

[mishy66]

I kinda assumed all the things that were found here was probably already found by LE and because they had access to the BOE, the TLV team would of already known what was discovered here.
I also kinda thought they didn’t read this thread either because there are a lot of opinions.
I also thought RB didn’t read here either. I think I’m just naive.

Also edit to add I didn’t follow TLV Facebook page until a few days ago so not sure what goes on there.

For sure LE would have it all and much more.

I think I read that TLV and MB FB page only had access to the BOE recently.

Yes they read this thread alright. Much has been removed because of such.
RB would be reading every singe thing he could lay his eyes on! He has taken a lot of what was theorised here and used it in his tall tales. It is obvious when you listen to his BS

 

[sunnybree]

I think there’s a lot of investigative work to be done on RB yet, before anything to do with Marion can be pinned on him. It sounds like police are on that (I hope). Of the two women that came forward, it’s interesting that both were failed attempts in a way. JO thwarted whatever he had planned by arriving back earlier than expected. GGB ended up taking him on by going to the police in spite of his coercion, and they took out an AVO on her behalf. Although he managed to get money from her beforehand if I recall correctly.


Although like others I don’t quite understand what he had planned with JO’s property To quickly sell her property and disappear? But there were some real links between him and JO; unlike with Marion and GGB, RB had an acquaintance with JO/JO’s ex prior to seeking a relationship with her. Right? Both GGB and JO were after Marion so that is interesting too; with JO he cut some corners by pursuing a victim within his sphere, however remotely, and he overplayed his hand with GGB with the threats and he moved into her property instead of maintaining a fully separate living arrangement. It just makes me wonder about other women. A pattern more like Marion? Or more like the other two?

 

[KiwiNZ]

I think there’s a lot of investigative work to be done on RB yet, before anything to do with Marion can be pinned on him. It sounds like police are on that (I hope). Of the two women that came forward, it’s interesting that both were failed attempts in a way. JO thwarted whatever he had planned by arriving back earlier than expected. GGB ended up taking him on by going to the police in spite of his coercion, and they took out an AVO on her behalf. Although he managed to get money from her beforehand if I recall correctly.


Although like others I don’t quite understand what he had planned with JO’s property To quickly sell her property and disappear? But there were some real links between him and JO; unlike with Marion and GGB, RB had an acquaintance with JO/JO’s ex prior to seeking a relationship with her. Right? Both GGB and JO were after Marion so that is interesting too; with JO he cut some corners by pursuing a victim within his sphere, however remotely, and he overplayed his hand with GGB with the threats and he moved into her property instead of maintaining a fully separate living arrangement. It just makes me wonder about other women. A pattern more like Marion? Or more like the other two?

Bonnie B came up with a good theory on JO, the divorce was bitter ( I think) and could RB of been in cahoots with JO's husband ? Just to add another can of worms lol

GBB said she knew of another women in her circle that RB had tried to con but she has since died.

 

[gymtonic]

welcome !!

I am just not sure on the proof of life by using the medicare card, by all accounts MB did not exist, why make an effort to place her back in Aus ? surely that could only make police ( if investigating properly) dig deeper, Had the police actually followed this up in a timely manner which would be the point of proof of life and it wasn't Marion whom the Dr had seen then they would have followed the trail, something that RB would have wanted to avoid.

I think it was either Marion ( maybe lost her glasses while overseas ? ) or DHD but using it not for proof of life, just using it because she could. Probably one of many money saving scams RB subjected his wife too

IMO the use of the Medicare care in Grafton is still more likely to either be a « proof of life » or the card has been provided to someone else with no access to Medicare services. The reason for this traces back to the service it was used for (according to the latest » a comprehensive initial consultation). initial Consultations and eye exams are the only optical services that can be claimed on Medicare; all other services e.g. glasses need to be claimed on private health fund. Marion had been having regular annual eye checks at the St Paul’s Terrace Health centre run by the Teachers Union Health Fund (her private health fund) and, from memory, had attended the centre prior to leaving for the UK. If she needed new glasses then she would have had to either claim that from TUH or pay in full and the evidence seems to be restricted to an initial consult in Grafton only. If she was not intending to disappear then she would have attended the TUH centre. I can’t see any reason for MB to legitimately have an initial consult only. I can however see reasons for someone else using her Medicare card. Medicare card fraud is very common. There would be no monetary advantage for RB using The card as you just get a service and not money back.

Given the info about how Medicare and private health insurance operates it leans towards someone else using the card IMO.

 

[KiwiNZ]

IMO the use of the Medicare care in Grafton is still more likely to either be a « proof of life » or the card has been provided to someone else with no access to Medicare services. The reason for this traces back to the service it was used for (according to the latest » a comprehensive initial consultation). initial Consultations and eye exams are the only optical services that can be claimed on Medicare; all other services e.g. glasses need to be claimed on private health fund. Marion had been having regular annual eye checks at the St Paul’s Terrace Health centre run by the Teachers Union Health Fund (her private health fund) and, from memory, had attended the centre prior to leaving for the UK. If she needed new glasses then she would have had to either claim that from TUH or pay in full and the evidence seems to be restricted to an initial consult in Grafton only. If she was not intending to disappear then she would have attended the TUH centre. I can’t see any reason for MB to legitimately have an initial consult only. I can however see reasons for someone else using her Medicare card. Medicare card fraud is very common. There would be no monetary advantage for RB using The card as you just get a service and not money back.

Given the info about how Medicare and private health insurance operates it leans towards someone else using the card IMO.

I think she would have been reluctant to go back to St Paul’s Terrace Health centre run by the Teachers Union Health Fund, especially if she knew them and they knew of her trip or may run into other teachers etc...

I personally don't think it was proof of life (cant see the point but I am probably missing the obvious lol) but I could imagine the card been given to someone else to use to get something free. But if she were alive at this point then I don't think she would give her card to anyone to do something illegal with.

 

[BonnieB]

I think she would have been reluctant to go back to St Paul’s Terrace Health centre run by the Teachers Union Health Fund, especially if she knew them and they knew of her trip or may run into other teachers etc...

I personally don't think it was proof of life (cant see the point but I am probably missing the obvious lol) but I could imagine the card been given to someone else to use to get something free. But if she were alive at this point then I don't think she would give her card to anyone to do something illegal with.

Exactly! which brings me back to my previous post...

He wouldn't have offered that BS story about Iluka unless he felt there was a chance of a witness placing Marion in the general area. It could also be because Marion DID use her Medicare card and he realized it placed her in the Grafton area at the same time as him.

 

[gymtonic]

I think she would have been reluctant to go back to St Paul’s Terrace Health centre run by the Teachers Union Health Fund, especially if she knew them and they knew of her trip or may run into other teachers etc...

I personally don't think it was proof of life (cant see the point but I am probably missing the obvious lol) but I could imagine the card been given to someone else to use to get something free. But if she were alive at this point then I don't think she would give her card to anyone to do something illegal with.

Honestly, the TUH centre is pretty big with multiple practitioners and well frequented. In all my years going there, I never once saw any teacher colleagues or anyone I knew for that matter…but it is possible that MB would be wary of that. As for the staff…You didn’t always get to see the same person and they would really know little about your personal life or care. What I should have added was that if MB wanted new glasses she could have paid upfront and then claimed from TUH (thus avoiding the centre altogether).
Having said that though, I have thought of a counter to my own POV which was that, having arranged to go overseas for a long period of time, it was quite likely that she would have suspended her membership of the TUH for that time. I did that and it was easy to arrange. Logic dictates that she would have organised that so that she did not have to pay membership for services she wasn’t intending to use whilst out of the country. I can't recall the podcast or the inquest revealing whether that had been investigated. I can only recall one of the early episodes (I think) stating that LL had forwarded some of MB’s Mail to SL and that some correspondence from the health fund was amongst it?

 

[mishy66]

Exactly! which brings me back to my previous post...

He wouldn't have offered that BS story about Iluka unless he felt there was a chance of a witness placing Marion in the general area. It could also be because Marion DID use her Medicare card and he realized it placed her in the Grafton area at the same time as him.

Or......he is using that Medicare card to show "Marion came back in to Australia" and was merrily going about tidying up the last of her duties before flying back OS - of which she had just spent 5 or so weeks : a long way to come back for an eye check and multiple withdrawals when it all could have been done prior to her leaving.

I am banking that Iluka holds the key to some of Marions antiques - it is a corrider for vintage / antique shopping along that route.

 

[HinterlandObserver]

Or......he is using that Medicare card to show "Marion came back in to Australia" and was merrily going about tidying up the last of her duties before flying back OS - of which she had just spent 5 or so weeks : a long way to come back for an eye check and multiple withdrawals when it all could have been done prior to her leaving.

I am banking that Iluka holds the key to some of Marions antiques - it is a corrider for vintage / antique shopping along that route.

There’s still an elderly gent with a very unique name, Gerardus Bakkenhoven, who has been missing from Iluka since 2014 that popped into my head when I heard Iluka brought up again.
The info on his disappearance is here: Gerardus BAKKENHOVEN. It would be interesting to see if he ever had any connections to coin’s or antiques or RB in general.