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

Status
Not open for further replies.
  • #21
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

Thank you, red cedar. That’s an interesting comment from AKA.

Nymboida is a very small one horse town bordering on a National Park. I wonder what his relationship is to the area for him to know it. Buying shares in a plantation seems very possible. I’d be interested to know if ‘family’ or an ‘alias’ has land there also.
 
  • #22
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.
And of course AKA would have been aware that Australian Red Cedar is one of the most prized timbers used in Australian antique furniture
 
  • #23
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
Right smack in the middle of Ware territory!

IMO
 
  • #24
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 A woman who (from AKA) wanted nothing to do with her family anymore - Who could’ve withdrawn her funds in Brisbane.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!

View attachment 433118

This has already been confirmed as incorrect by Sally - crime stopper was 2008
 
  • #25
And of course AKA would have been aware that Australian Red Cedar is one of the most prized timbers used in Australian antique furniture
Totally would have.

He didnt own any property with Red Cedar. IMO
But he sure did have links to the name!
 
  • #26
All these known dates laid out … wow!
 
  • #27
In the William Tyrrell case the neighbours were all interviewed and statements were taken.

Yes, Marion Barter case is different and protracted but if her treasures were in Tea chests and she visited wollongbar to pick them up maybe Wollongbar neighbours hold some key information. Did AKA have storage shed anywhere? Rent or borrow space on a farm nearby, As they were moving regularly did they own a truck, ute or towbar/ or trailer? Park a truck nearby or on a neighbours land?
Wollongbar neighbourhood are they aware?
 
Last edited:
  • #28
This has already been confirmed as incorrect by Sally - crime stopper was 2008

Thanks Kiwi. Mish cleared up the year. Armidale is still interesting being that Nymboida runs between Armidale and Grafton. What are the odds?

Can’t believe no one bothered to follow up on Armidale for 2 or so years. Flabbergasting!
 
  • #29
Totally would have.

He didnt own any property with Red Cedar. IMO
But he sure did have links to the name!
Yes, Australian Red Cedar hasn’t been used much for over a century as there’s not much of it left, so agree, the story was total BS and to big-note himself. In addition to the links regarding the addresses and the NY story, I also wonder if he “inherited” some antique red cedar furniture from any of his victims..,
 
  • #30
What happened to the cameras and photographs? Firstly keen photographer and traveller AKA not adverse to taking a few naked pics.

Then Marion on her trip of a lifetime across the UK and Europe.

No doubt NSW Police have not carried out any search’s and taken away his collection of photographs wherever they are hiding as I doubt many of them were digital snaps prior to 2000?
 
  • #31
  • #32
There is definitely documentation there are 2 postcards postmarked after MB supposedly came back into Australia.
1 was to her sister and the other to LL
It is on the podcast and talked about at inquest.
1 was postmarked 7th August and the other 30th August. - one of those had details on the back which I think was also talked about here. The other was blank.

Maybe they haven't been addressed on the FB page because of family dynamics ? I mean for Marions exBIL to say what he did to AS at the last inquest they obs have a lot of discord. Still haven't reached out to SL after everything that has been shown at inquest so far. Which must be very heartbreaking for her.

Opps sorry Ruby! I meant to tag @Bibno but it went to you.
Ah thanks for clarifying Mishy66, I wonder if Sl's contact that decoded the sorting office etc on the other postcards was able to provide her with any further info on the two cards with August postmarks. I will have a search.
 
  • #33
  • #34
Ah thanks for clarifying Mishy66, I wonder if Sl's contact that decoded the sorting office etc on the other postcards was able to provide her with any further info on the two cards with August postmarks. I will have a search.
Maybe those two postcards are not in Sally’s possession. And that’s why there’s no detail about what was written in them on them and why they weren’t analysed along with the others.
 
  • #35
Maybe those two postcards are not in Sally’s possession. And that’s why there’s no detail about what was written in them on them and why they weren’t analysed along with the others.
I think so too
 
  • #36
Thanks to my colleagues here, I've corrected this flowchart. I'd like to delete the first one, so I don't compound the terrible misinformation on this case. Not sure how to do that.

One thing the chart makes clear to me, and in my opinion only, is that the gap between Marion's supposed arrival in Brisbane and the first withdrawal is a major clue. Either Marion was sick and couldn't get to the bank as soon as she wanted to; or Marion did not return to Australia in order to withdraw money and had to be persuaded to while there; or RB had to scramble to come up with an accomplice and a plan once Marion was dead (either accidentally or on purpose) and it took him a while.
MB4.jpg
 
  • #37
A few more thoughts after laying out the chart and sorting info. 1) The withdrawal pattern almost assures that it couldn't be Marion AND an imposter operating in the same banks. Once Marion visited a bank, they couldn't risk going in as an imposter, imo. 2) If Marion never returned to Australia, then RB has time to make a plan. He doesn't have to make withdrawals hastily. 3) Ditto if Marion is murdered soon after she arrives in Australia. 4) It's possible Marion returned to Australia for a reason we haven't fathomed and truly meant to stay only 8 days. While there RB suggests she withdraw the money. 5) I seriously doubt Marion was killed by someone other than RB. If so, it had to happen in UK (or elsewhere like Amsterdam) on Aug 31 or in Australia, the two places in which they were together at same time.
 
  • #38
What happened to the cameras and photographs? Firstly keen photographer and traveller AKA not adverse to taking a few naked pics.

Then Marion on her trip of a lifetime across the UK and Europe.

No doubt NSW Police have not carried out any search’s and taken away his collection of photographs wherever they are hiding as I doubt many of them were digital snaps prior to 2000?

Good point and people had really great quality digital cameras by the late 90s, and yet mobile phones were still pretty dire. I'm sure Marion would have treated herself to a digital camera for her trip, no?

And AKA 'international photographer' that he was... where's all his pics of his travels then?
 
  • #39
A few more thoughts after laying out the chart and sorting info. 1) The withdrawal pattern almost assures that it couldn't be Marion AND an imposter operating in the same banks. Once Marion visited a bank, they couldn't risk going in as an imposter, imo. 2) If Marion never returned to Australia, then RB has time to make a plan. He doesn't have to make withdrawals hastily. 3) Ditto if Marion is murdered soon after she arrives in Australia. 4) It's possible Marion returned to Australia for a reason we haven't fathomed and truly meant to stay only 8 days. While there RB suggests she withdraw the money. 5) I seriously doubt Marion was killed by someone other than RB. If so, it had to happen in UK (or elsewhere like Amsterdam) on Aug 31 or in Australia, the two places in which they were together at same time.

I totally agree and in this regard it's a very short window of time under scrutiny either way, which is a good thing, not that any of this is 'good' it's blimming awful :(

I totally admire your flow chart, amazing work! :D
 
  • #40
A few more thoughts after laying out the chart and sorting info. 1) The withdrawal pattern almost assures that it couldn't be Marion AND an imposter operating in the same banks. Once Marion visited a bank, they couldn't risk going in as an imposter, imo. 2) If Marion never returned to Australia, then RB has time to make a plan. He doesn't have to make withdrawals hastily. 3) Ditto if Marion is murdered soon after she arrives in Australia. 4) It's possible Marion returned to Australia for a reason we haven't fathomed and truly meant to stay only 8 days. While there RB suggests she withdraw the money. 5) I seriously doubt Marion was killed by someone other than RB. If so, it had to happen in UK (or elsewhere like Amsterdam) on Aug 31 or in Australia, the two places in which they were together at same time.
Excellent flow chart, Mrs Emma. I have a million unanswered questions as we all do.

AKA landed in Australia, 31/07, the same day MB phoned SL (from an unknown location - MB said she was in TW) depending on his flight arrival time - he likely flew out of Europe on the 29/07. Due to the time difference between countries.

As for MB (if it was MB) She likely flew out of the UK/Europe on the 31/07 to arrive in Brisbane on 02/08.

We also have ER’s description from AKA regarding poison - flu like symptoms over a 2 week period. It seems MB was in good health and spirits while speaking with SL.

MB tells SL she won’t be making contact for a little while (more than 11 weeks isn’t a little while) Orient Express trip is cancelled for the time being.

MB returns (or perhaps not) if she did - A likely scenario is she’s returned to withdraw her life savings to put towards a school/luxury mansion in LUX/holiday Villa (choose your own reason) - Imagine someone’s frustration at the realisation that a direct transfer cannot be made from an Australian bank to a European bank? Spanner in the works!

Passenger card states an 8 day trip.

Why isn’t the money withdrawn in a lump sum in Brisbane? Give the bank 3 days notice and it’s done. In and out within 8 days (for whoever returned)

Withdrawals of $5,000 and under only requires a withdrawal slip signature to match your invisible signature in your bank book that gets placed under ultra violet light. No photo ID. A lump sum withdrawal requires full identification.

Based on evidence we have someone travelling hours of driving in MB’s name.

13 days - between return to Brisbane to first withdrawal. ???? - 11 days - between returning and optometrist. Is MB suffering flu like symptoms and bedridden? Is someone else laying low? Why lay low? Is more identification not accessible? Another spanner in the works?

11/08 - AKA car purchase (why?) Sold/dumped 4 months later.

02/08-13/08 - Brisbane to Grafton - 3.5 hours
Or Brisbane to BB - 2 hours
Or BB to Grafton - 1.45 hours.
- during withdrawal period - BB to Burleigh Heads - 1 hour.

Did MB or whoever check in at the Novotel at all or go straight to BB area?

Why are some withdrawals made in Burleigh? 5 minutes from SL’s house. Was some of MB’s identification (bank books - bank account numbers, such as her Colonial State account etc left in storage on the Gold Coast? - she wouldn’t have needed them in Europe) Going to the Gold Coast was a massive risk of MB being recognised.

Why is there a big gap between the withdrawals from 15/08 to early September and the final transfer in mid October? Rough estimate of 5 weeks.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
136
Guests online
1,168
Total visitors
1,304

Forum statistics

Threads
632,287
Messages
18,624,328
Members
243,076
Latest member
thrift.pony
Back
Top