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Disappearance of Louise and Charmian Faulkner

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Louise Faulkner
Born
Louise Yvonne Faulkner

7 April 1937
Colac, Victoria, Australia
Disappeared26 April 1980 (aged 43)
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
StatusMissing for 44 years, 7 months and 23 days
Charmian Faulkner
Born
Charmian Christabel Alexis Faulkner

30 October 1977
Disappeared26 April 1980 (aged 2)
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
StatusMissing for 44 years, 7 months and 23 days
Parents
  • Uncertain, possibly George Sutherland [1] (father)
  • Louise Faulkner (mother)

Louise Yvonne Faulkner (born 7 April 1937) and Charmian Christabel Alexis Faulkner (born 30 October 1977) were a mother and daughter who went missing from St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, in 1980. As of 2024, no-one has been charged over the disappearance and no bodies have been found.[2]

Background

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Louise Faulkner was born on 7 April 1937, in Colac, Victoria, and was the youngest of three children. Her daughter Charmian was born on 30 October 1977.[3]

Last confirmed sighting

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Whilst residing at Acland St, St. Kilda, Louise Faulkner developed a friendship with Corrine Wylde, a neighbour in the same block of flats. On 25 April 1980, Anzac Day in Australia, Louise and Charmian attended a first birthday party for Wylde's son. Faulkner told Wylde that she was going to visit her boyfriend in Gippsland. The following day, Wylde saw the two Faulkners get into a white ute with an older man. This was the last confirmed sighting of either of them. Louise Faulkner was aged 43 and Charmian was two at the time of their disappearance. The only suspect was her lover 60 year old George Sutherland whom Louise Faulkner named as Charmian's father.[4]

Police investigation

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On 9 June 1980, preliminary investigations of the disappearances began. Inquiries were conducted over the following 12 months with friends and associates of Louise.[5]

Coronial inquest

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In August 2006, a coronial inquest was held into the disappearance and death of Louise and Charmian Faulkner and found that the pair were probably murdered.[4] The inquest was re-convened in 2008.[6] On that occasion the coroner ruled the deaths foul play, but said there was not enough evidence to link anyone to the killings.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Berry, Jamie (15 August 2006). "Mother, daughter 'met with foul play'". The Age. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. ^ Mills, Tammy (2 August 2014). "Daughter still hopes for the call to unlock a 34-year-old murder mystery". The Age. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  3. ^ McIntosh, Alyssa (27 January 2015). "Charmian Faulkner". Find A Grave Memorial. 141867548. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, Greg (6 October 2010). "Police offer reward for 'mum mystery'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. ^ Houlihan, Liam (1 August 2010). Badlands: Australia's 13 Most Intriguing True Murders. Melbourne University Publishing. pp. 220–235. ISBN 9780522859768. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. ^ Dina Rosendorff (26 February 2008). "Daughter haunted by 28-year mystery". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation (18 March 2008). "Missing pair's death ruled 'foul play'". Retrieved 22 May 2016.