Missing evidence linked to sex offender hinders Marilyn Wallman inquest

A previously rejected inquest into the disappearance of 14-year-old Marilyn Wallman in 1972 was unsuccessful partly due to missing evidence connected to a convicted sex offender, Michael Anthony Frances.

Marilyn Wallman disappeared on March 21, 1972, after cycling to catch a school bus. A fragment of her skull was discovered two years later in bushland near McGregor Creek.

Convicted sex offender's connection to Marilyn's disappearance

Counsel assisting Coroner David O'Connell, John Aberdeen, stated that Frances, who died in Victoria in 2020, was in Mackay when Marilyn went missing. Frances had a history of violent sexual offending against young women.

In 1974, Frances was arrested in Mackay after being found with women's clothing, including a dress, halter top, and false breasts, when he was apprehended riding his landlady's scooter.

"When he was apprehended at Eimeo riding his landlady's scooter, found on the scooter were also a woman's dress, halter top, brazier, panties and two false breasts," Mr Aberdeen said.

The inquest heard that Frances kept diaries, notebooks, and a mud map with references to Marilyn Wallman, along with 400 pieces of women's underwear he had taken from clotheslines.

"It seems Mr Frances kept a record of what he had been up to," Mr Aberdeen said.

A search of his house found diaries and notebooks from 1971, but a section surrounding the dates of Marilyn's disappearance had apparently been torn out.

Evidence existed until 1976, with a detective giving evidence that he located a mud map with an area in Eimeo featuring roads that matched the area of Wallmans Rd and Eimeo Road.

"Detective Mitchelson gave evidence that he located a mud map, drawing or sketch of an area in Eimeo which featured roads which matched the area of Wallmans Rd and Eimeo Road," Mr Aberdeen said.

However, the diaries and mud map no longer exist, with Mr Aberdeen stating that they were stored in a locked "steel press" at Mackay police station but were later lost.

"Quite simply, Your Honour, no one knows what happened to those documents after 1976."

Inquest rejected in 1988

The inquest heard that police requested to reopen the inquest in 1988, but the coroner rejected this due to the missing evidence.

"It should be specifically mentioned that Coroner Bradshaw said had the map been available it would have provided the necessary evidence as it established a provable link between Marilyn and Mr Frances."

The inquest is expected to hear from more than 20 witnesses over the next two weeks.