Australia Australia - Marion Barter - Missing After Trip to UK - June 1997 #23

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

Latest episode of Sal and Joni's podcast (episode 7, currently behind a paywall) finally has some interesting new information.

It reports that Janet Oldenburg died on 30 May 2025. Sally also recounts one of her last conversations with JO where she told Sally it has been troubling her that she did not tell the police that when she was in Bali with RB, he made her write two letters to her family saying that she did not want any further contact with them. Sally asks her if she will agree to talking about it on a recorded call, and she does, and we hear the audio.

We also hear Ghislaine Danlois-Dubois saying, again for the first time I believe, that RB wanted her to change her name.

Joni sleuths during their stay in Belgium that both GDD and the victim being called "Charlotte" approached coin dealers in Belgium asking for catalogues, and that the association of coin collectors has published a warning about a R.L.West defaulting on payments. Customer address is the Ballina PO Box and Luxembourg.

Next episode: Luxembourg where they meet Monique Cornelius.

That is very sad to learn Janet has passed away. Her evidence was invaluable to this case. So glad she managed to escape the jaws of this monster.

Also the other information is very enlightening and helps build a further picture of this guy and his methods.

 

[mishy66]

Latest episode of Sal and Joni's podcast (episode 7, currently behind a paywall) finally has some interesting new information.

It reports that Janet Oldenburg died on 30 May 2025. Sally also recounts one of her last conversations with JO where she told Sally it has been troubling her that she did not tell the police that when she was in Bali with RB, he made her write two letters to her family saying that she did not want any further contact with them. Sally asks her if she will agree to talking about it on a recorded call, and she does, and we hear the audio.

We also hear Ghislaine Danlois-Dubois saying, again for the first time I believe, that RB wanted her to change her name.

Joni sleuths during their stay in Belgium that both GDD and the victim being called "Charlotte" approached coin dealers in Belgium asking for catalogues, and that the association of coin collectors has published a warning about a R.L.West defaulting on payments. Customer address is the Ballina PO Box and Luxembourg.

Next episode: Luxembourg where they meet Monique Cornelius.

Yes, how very sad about Janet and again, his victims are losing their lives yet he and her still walk the streets. NO justice in Aust for criminals.

The pattern is always continuing, his MO is true to form.

These recent accounts of him insisting his victims tell their loved ones they didn't want contact with them, is true to form in MB case.

Her sister stating Marion told her she was going away for a few years and wouldn’t be in contact with anyone.

But Marion writes postcards home. Maybe without his knowing while he was off doing his "important business".

BB bank teller tells P McKenzie that M was contacted and M did not want her whereabouts disclosed.
NO idea HOW they would have contacted M given she had no home or phone number.

Another stuff up by QLD Police.

Unless 'someone' KNEW the BB bank teller and IF...... that teller was married at the time to a policeman

Patterns.


Meanwhile all is well in Ballina living in their daughters house.

 

[mishy66]

You would still think that whatever record is brought up would still show a name? How would you know for certain you were even viewing the correct record?

It’s difficult to miss the name Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel. It would have filled the screen.

SL didn’t go into the details but she seemed satisfied that this person wouldn’t have noticed the name change.

My understanding is that the passport record would have shown both names but the person doing the search may have just used the name fields for the search then not actually viewed those fields in detail once the record came up. SL probably just asked them to check the movement, which they did. After all, who could imagine such a scenario of someone changing both given and family names to such a bizarre combination (except of course for a seasoned criminal)

In one of the recent Facebook comments, SL did clarify that the person who did the search was just a class mate, not a close friend so even less likely to pay attention to extra & unusual names in the record of someone they didn’t know.

Having worked for many years in a very large organization where I frequently had to look up employee records, I can easily imagine this scenario. Especially if the person was doing the search in an open office (hardly any WFH in those days) in a hurry due to it being a breach of protocol.

I agree @Lord Peter Flimsy

Something isn't sitting with this IMO

@CuriousKat99 Thank you so much for sharing that information.
I understand what you are saying and it may be possible that not all fields were shown especially in a situation that was perhaps in a work setting as you say, or concerned about work protocols of looking up people because a friend asks.

But I am thinking about the lead up to this conversation and how SL would have been frantic for any information on her mother. She had been to the police, Marion had not been in contact with anyone since the last call to Sally checking on her safety after Thredbo. I imagine M father and M sisters would have been contacted to check if they had heard from her.

SL would have shared information about her mother being missing to that friend who could help, so for me at least, regardless of whether it was a close friend or a class colleague, and they are all studying to be police, and someone in that class has the opportunity to help find a mother who is unaccounted for, then for me, I would be looking through any snippet of information to relay back.

HOW did they know it was M when her name wasnt MB, it was FNMR.

Looking through data based on a birthdate and a name of someone who wasn't traveling on that name, I would imagine would have taken hours to search through. Pretty good friend to do that knowing they may get caught.

M had a new passport under FNMR using her new IDL to obtain this, so the PP number would have been different to her previous ones.

I honestly cant buy someone who has a job in customs, and is asked for help to see if someones 50 yr old mother did come back into the country, that they dont actually check the names.
FNMR is one very weird name and there is SL saying her mothers name is Barter and they dont check through after possibly hours of searching for a birthdate and a name that wasnt hers??

Something not right IMO

 

[mishy66]

I agree @Lord Peter Flimsy

Something isn't sitting with this IMO

@CuriousKat99 Thank you so much for sharing that information.
I understand what you are saying and it may be possible that not all fields were shown especially in a situation that was perhaps in a work setting as you say, or concerned about work protocols of looking up people because a friend asks.

But I am thinking about the lead up to this conversation and how SL would have been frantic for any information on her mother. She had been to the police, Marion had not been in contact with anyone since the last call to Sally checking on her safety after Thredbo. I imagine M father and M sisters would have been contacted to check if they had heard from her.

SL would have shared information about her mother being missing to that friend who could help, so for me at least, regardless of whether it was a close friend or a class colleague, and they are all studying to be police, and someone in that class has the opportunity to help find a mother who is unaccounted for, then for me, I would be looking through any snippet of information to relay back.

HOW did they know it was M when her name wasnt MB, it was FNMR.

Looking through data based on a birthdate and a name of someone who wasn't traveling on that name, I would imagine would have taken hours to search through. Pretty good friend to do that knowing they may get caught.

M had a new passport under FNMR using her new IDL to obtain this, so the PP number would have been different to her previous ones.

I honestly cant buy someone who has a job in customs, and is asked for help to see if someones 50 yr old mother did come back into the country, that they dont actually check the names.
FNMR is one very weird name and there is SL saying her mothers name is Barter and they dont check through after possibly hours of searching for a birthdate and a name that wasnt hers??

Something not right IMO

And if this really is the case then no wonder Criminals like AH live in Australia.
A VERY lazy and disengaged customs worker who doesn't consider a mother is reported missing and just comes back to the daughter with, "Yes M returned in August".
And they were studying to be a cop>??
Probably got a job at BB police station

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Aka will take most of his dirty secrets to the grave and NSW Police appear to have lost all interest in the case despite the Coroner’s findings (they could have nailed this guy decades back had Marion’s case been properly investigated at the outset).

Attention should turn to his family who have no doubt (knowingly or unknowingly) financially benefited from Aka’s life of crime, and the worldwide acquaintances that have helped assist him in his dodgy dealings over many decades.

Not sure any more victims or families of those victims will come forward after all this time. Sadly even now the story isn’t well known enough across Europe. I’ve no doubt there are unknown victims matching the dates he was coming in and out of Australia.

When the cover up is more important than carrying out justice. In an ideal world there should be a whole team of people trying to match up missing women in certain regions aligning with his comings and goings. In reality they are mentally matching up their shortcomings with his prolific crimes in many areas and not wanting to know.

They will have excuses, such as no funding, such as jurisdictions, such as no active complainants, such as 'there's things going on in the background we can't disclose', data protection ... then it's staff shortages, staff holidays, staff training days, staff rotation, staff no longer employed here. Not to forget 'we have been trying to make contact and received no response', letters lost in post, emails invisibled, networks crashed, IT system change overs, change of government. Kafka wrote a whole book about it.

JMO MOO

 

[mishy66]

When the cover up is more important than carrying out justice. In an ideal world there should be a whole team of people trying to match up missing women in certain regions aligning with his comings and goings. In reality they are mentally matching up their shortcomings with his prolific crimes in many areas and not wanting to know.

They will have excuses, such as no funding, such as jurisdictions, such as no active complainants, such as 'there's things going on in the background we can't disclose', data protection ... then it's staff shortages, staff holidays, staff training days, staff rotation, staff no longer employed here. Not to forget 'we have been trying to make contact and received no response', letters lost in post, emails invisibled, networks crashed, IT system change overs, change of government. Kafka wrote a whole book about it.

JMO MOO

Absolutely @Observe_dont_Absorb

I also think the Coroner criticizing NSW police failings and Sallys criticism of NSW and QLD police failings for decades ( and rightly so!!!! ) , have gone a long way in the "leave this whole case in the waste paper basket" attitude by both of the States Police forces.
And if AH himself did know someone connected to the NSW policeforce back then, corruption at its finest.

We are talking about the Terry Lewis era and there was a relative of his connected to the BB police force at the time

Swings and roundabouts in a man's world of corruption.

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

I know I have mentioned this more than once previously but I wonder if it’s now possible to list all of Aka’s visits in and out of Australia from the time he was living in the UK in the 1980s? I assume this information is held in the Case notes taken from his passport records?

It would give us sleuths something to delve into by looking at possible missing person cases (and possible other crimes) across Europe (especially the Benelux region) and further afield to see if any match.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I know I have mentioned this more than once previously but I wonder if it’s now possible to list all of Aka’s visits in and out of Australia from the time he was living in the UK in the 1980s? I assume this information is held in the Case notes taken from his passport records?

It would give us sleuths something to delve into by looking at possible missing person cases (and possible other crimes) across Europe (especially the Benelux region) and further afield to see if any match.

This should be done and personally I still don't rule him out from something like Jennifer Fairgate mystery.

Although how anyone can be guaranteed where he was and what he was doing in any year is another problem. Most especially if he has even more names and passports than those we already know about (why wouldn't he?) and also if he had criminal associates who were acting in his stead or alongside him or anyone corrupt in the airports or airlines or border control or LE (also, why wouldn't he?).

JMO MOO

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Nothing important to say. Just an impression I got from listening to the last episode of Sally and Joni's podcast. -- When Marion told Sally she'd be out of touch for a while, that she was going off-line, listening to Sally say this, this time, I had the sense of an obvious conclusion. Not only was Marion saying "I won't be in touch," but almost more likely, "I can't be in touch." If she really meant she was taking a holiday from sending postcards and checking in, she would have said something more like, "You'll probably not hear much from me for a while. I'm taking a breather."

My gut feeling comes as a mother. Even when we ask for space from our kids, we feel a bit guilty, and say it in that way. Almost asking permission. Because we always feel we MUST be within range if there is an emergency. My conclusion is that Marion absolutely knew she'd be unable to be in touch, and this is because she knew she was going back to Australia. If she were in Australia, she could not call or write without giving herself away. At that point, I believe she thought once the financial matters were squared away, she'd zip back to Europe and Bob's your Uncle.

Even if RB had ordered her to tell the family that, like he did with others, Marion would have said it differently, imho. The fact that she was so clear about it says to me, she had something difficult, unpleasant, or even dangerous to do.

And if it were something like RB told her they were going to Luxembourg and not to tell her family, Marion still would not have made such a final declaration. She would have thought, "I can still send a postcard or two if I feel like it."

Really nothing important. But to me. More than ever I believe Marion came back to Australia and possibly did it reluctantly or intuitively believing it was a bad or dangerous idea. Either to meet up with RB or to investigate him. And as a mother, I believe she was protecting Sally from the information until Marion could make things right.

 

[MrsEmmaPeel]

one more thing on totally different track: knowing Marion's story, listening to Bronwyn's story, AND, listening to the Melanie Read podcast, "The Boy in the Water," I get the feeling that Coroners who rule in favor of more or better investigation are met with resistance from the Police. The Police dig their heels in and simply refuse to cooperate. And there is no authority able to make them do what Coroners recommend.

 

[sah10406]

Episode 8 of Sal and Joni's podcast The Missing Matter dropped today for subscribers, titled "The Mysterious Doorbell? Luxembourg".

It is absolutely uneventful and pointless. They hope to drop in on Monique Cornelius, having emailed her but had no reply. They go to her house and find an engraved plaque on the door of her house with the two names Blum and Cornelius, which causes some consternation. They go back several times, but she isn't there, and she doesn't return Sal's calls.

 

[Candytuft]

Uneventful and pointless just about sums up this podcast so far in my opinion.
Although there may be information that we can't be privy to I suppose.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Episode 8 of Sal and Joni's podcast The Missing Matter dropped today for subscribers, titled "The Mysterious Doorbell? Luxembourg".

It is absolutely uneventful and pointless. They hope to drop in on Monique Cornelius, having emailed her but had no reply. They go to her house and find an engraved plaque on the door of her house with the two names Blum and Cornelius, which causes some consternation. They go back several times, but she isn't there, and she doesn't return Sal's calls.

I don't recall this info, about the Blum x Cornelius plaque. Oh wow.

 

[hahahils]

Well done to everyone who believed that Monique has played more than a small role in this whole sad sad story… she could well be the key.
Monique = lover
Monique = blonde
Monique = actress
Monique = polyglot
Monique = Ramakel
Monique = only true emotional reaction from Blum at inquest.
And now… Monique = Blum.
What do we know about Monique Cornelius?
How many times was she married?
Does she have children?
What is her employment history?
Does she own property in any other countries?
Where and when has she travelled?
I wonder about her aliases… and if anyone can confirm what country she was in when Marion “vanished”…

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

What was the name of the woman who befriended Marion in the UK... Mabs? Maz?

 

[Candytuft]

@Observe_dont_Absorb - Maz

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Sadly I do think it would make a great deal of sense if Ric Blum aka Mr AKA had an international female accomplice. I'm not sure if we're allowed to make allegations about any woman in particular but I'm pretty in agreement that his interactions with MC should be scrutinised.

 

[Candytuft]

It's strange about the Blum x Cornelius plaque . Why wasn't it noticed when Alison Sandy and the podcast team went to see her at home when they were investigating in Europe ?

 

[hahahils]

It's strange about the Blum x Cornelius plaque . Why wasn't it noticed when Alison Sandy and the podcast team went to see her at home when they were investigating in Europe ?

SL mentioned the name was cover with a sticky residue, like a sticker had been over it - so possibly it was covered.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Is MC still alive and well and 'with us' in this life?

I recall she claimed to be shook up, at risk of harm from RB, etc, she also made claims that we can never prove are true, that she had written an account of everything she recalls to the police and that she can no longer discuss it due to the stress and trauma it causes her.

If she was his accomplice then this is a crafty way of claiming to be a responsible upstanding citizen whilst covering up anything that needs to be covered up. We have no legal right to ask any police force if they have received information from MC. Dead end. How very convenient.

I wonder what the 'real' Mr Remakel would say. If he has got thoughts after all this time?

JMO MOO