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Today marks 50 years since the unsolved murder of Patricia ‘Suzie’ Schmidt.

Three weeks after finishing her leaving exam at Seacombe High School the 16-year old got a job at a Burger King so she could buy her family Christmas presents.

On Tuesday, 14 December 1971, Suzie worked her first ever night shift, which she had requested because of the penalty rates.

On Saturday 18 December she worked her second shift. Her father was to pick her up when she finished but was running 10 minutes late so she decided to walk home.

At about 1.45am on Saturday 18 December 1971 the teenager was seen leaving the Burger King Restaurant, on the corner of South Road and Marion Road, Darlington.

She was reported as a missing person at 9.30am that day after failing to return home.

When she went missing she was wearing black lace up boots, hot pants, a red jumper and an orange coat.

At about 6.30pm on Saturday 18 December 1971, Suzie’s body was located off a dirt track at Hallett Cove, south of Adelaide.

When she was found, she was only wearing the boots. The jumper and coat were draped over her body and her bra was hanging on a wire fence nearby.

There was evidence located at the scene indicating Miss Schmidt had been sexually assaulted before being murdered, but it is unknown where this occurred. It is likely she was murdered at a location away from where she was found.

Over the last 18 months, the DNA profile has now been obtained and uploaded to the national DNA database without resulting in a match, and will be immediately checked against any new profiles uploaded in the future. With DNA advancements, scientists are working to match the DNA profile to relatives who may already be on the database which will then create further investigation opportunities for detectives.

In addition, investigators continue to work methodically through the process of gathering DNA from all individuals identified as having some connection with the investigation since 1971 and will see if that DNA can be linked to the recently created DNA profile.

The process has resulted in a number of people being excluded as persons of interest and identified several possible familial matches to people on the database who may be related to the offenders.

A reward of up to $1,000,000 remains on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

On Monday 23 December 2002, the body of Steven Armstrong was found inside his unit at Henry Street, Plympton.

The 39-year old’s body was found by his landlord, seated in the lounge room of the unit, with multiple stab wounds.

A post-mortem found that the invalid pensioner’s death had occurred around one week earlier, on approximately 16 or 17 December 2002.

Mr Armstrong lived a private life and had a small group of friends and associates.

These friends and associates were identified and spoken to by police. Although some provided further lines of inquiry these failed to assist the investigation.

Another witness, and nearby resident, provided information that around Tuesday 17 December 2002 that he had heard a lot of yelling coming from the vicinity of Mr Armstrong’s unit which lasted for about 10 minutes.

The persons involved in this altercation have never been identified.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

On 18 December 1991 the body of Yasmina Sinodinos was found on the side of a fire track at Anstey Hill.

The 25-year old was last seen alive by a friend as she left a house at Gilles Plains at about 6am on Sunday 15 December 1991.

At that time the mother of three was seen in the company of a man as she got into what was believed to be a silver or grey coloured Sigma sedan.

Ms Sinodinos died of significant head injuries.

The inference from the scene is that she had been murdered elsewhere and her body washed, re-dressed and dumped at that location.

Ms Sinodinos was a heroin user with connections to the drug world in Adelaide. She resided day-to-day in Mt Gambier and travelled to Adelaide frequently to associate with friends. It was during such a visit that she died in Adelaide.

DNA was obtained at the post-mortem and in November 2012 was matched with a suspect for her murder.

A male person was arrested but acquitted at trial in 2014. He remains a suspect in the case.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

 

Crime Stoppers SA has partnered with Green Adelaide and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions to tackle the illegal trade of aquatic weeds, Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Salvinia spp (Salvinia molesta or Salvinia auriculata).

Crime Stoppers SA CEO, Nigel Smart, said it is an offence to sell either noxious weed types in South Australia, and called on the community to help protect South Australia’s waterways and environment by sharing what they know about people who trade them online and in markets.

“These floating weed varieties are most commonly found in backyard ponds because they are hardy and grow quick, but when they are dumped or allowed to spread into our waterways they pose serious harm to our native fish, plants and animals,” Mr Smart said.

“Salvinia spp and Water Hyacinth will block waterways and reduce water quality, which ultimately impacts on outdoor pleasures of South Australians who enjoy getting out into the great outdoors for boating, fishing and swimming. The only people who win are those who are illegally selling them in the first place,” he said.

“People may not know that these floating weeds for sale at their local market or online are actually illegal to sell or trade so this campaign helps people to identify both varieties and encourages them to share what they know with Crime Stoppers, because stopping the trade is critical to minimising the devastating impact these weeds cause.”

Mr Smart said raising community awareness and action is crucial to preventing the prohibited selling or swapping of these plants.

“It may be that friends provide a cutting to you because it’s thrived in their own pond at home – but that’s all it takes to put our environment, economy and community at risk. It may not be an offence to have these weeds at home, but if they’re found on private property they can still be seized and destroyed by authorities.”

“If you know or suspect someone is selling these prohibited plants we encourage people to take a photo if possible and share that image and any additional information by going to www.crimestopperssa.com.au.”

As one of the world’s worst invasive aquatic plants, Water Hyacinth is a major pest of creeks, rivers and dams. Similarly, Salvinia spp. is a fern-like invasive aquatic weed that can choke waterways by floating on still or slow-moving water and covering the water surface with a thick mat of vegetation. This fast-growing weed shades out any submerged plant life and impedes oxygen exchange, making the water unsuitable for fish and other animals. Deliberately introduced into Australia around 1894 as an ornamental plant for garden ponds, and eventually discarded into waterways. Almost every infestation in southern Australia has resulted from deliberate planting or disposal of unwanted plants readily sourced from the aquatic trade.

Water Hyacinth is declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 throughout the whole of the State of South Australia. Its entry to South Australia, movement or transport on a public road by itself or as a contaminant, or sale by itself or as a contaminant, are prohibited. Notification of infestations is necessary to ensure these are destroyed. Landowners are required to destroy any water hyacinth plants growing on their properties.

It is illegal to move or sell Salvinia spp. in South Australia and a maximum fine of $50,000 can apply for those caught selling it. Native to Brazil, Salvinia spp. is declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 . When removed from a backyard pond Salvinia spp. can be destroyed by being placed in a plastic bag and left in the sun until completely broken down, then placed in the general waste bin (not with green garden waste).

Find out more about this campaign here.

Submit a tip here.

At about 6.25pm on 8 December 2004, Robert (Mark) Woodland was found by a member of the public in the South Parklands, about 50 metres west of Sir Lewis Cohen Drive, Adelaide.

He had been dead for several days by the time his body was discovered.

A number of personal belongings – including his keys, ANZ ATM card, RAA plastic sleeve and jumper – were missing.

A post-mortem examination found that the 36-year old had been the victim of a serious assault that had taken place some days earlier at that location.

Mr Woodland’s blue Commodore sedan registration number SA WYZ-736 was located nearby in the car park of Veale Gardens.

Mr Woodland left his home at Plympton Park in his vehicle about 9pm on Saturday 4 December 2004.

He did not return home or attend work and was reported missing on 6 December 2004.

Police believe that a member of the public saw Mr Woodland in the early hours of Sunday morning 5 December 2004. At that time, he was alone and did not appear to be in distress.

New forensic testing techniques on DNA recovered from the crime scene has provided a potential profile for a suspect connected with the cold case murder.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Crime Stoppers SA has again achieved international accolades for our efforts in working with police and 9 News Adelaide to help solve crime, winning the Media category at this year’s Crime Stoppers International Awards.

This award once again underlines the very real contribution that Crime Stoppers continues to make to the safety of South Australians, and our ability as an independent not-for-profit organisation to deliver world-leading initiatives.

We remain very appreciative of our partners – in particular the team at 9 News Adelaide – for providing significant airtime to profile unsolved crimes and use their reach into the community to encourage people to share what they know without needing to say who they are.

The Crime Stoppers International annual awards recognise leading individuals, programs, activities and campaigns from around the world for excellence and for their contribution to the achievement of the Crime Stoppers International vision – to help stop, solve and prevent crime globally.

The community has been asked to provide information on a number of unsolved and suspected murders in the southern area of Adelaide.

There are three murders in particular where the victims – Robert Atkins, Trevor King and Jeff Mundy – and suspects are all believed to have been associated with the local methamphetamine and criminal scene across the southern suburbs of Adelaide.

In 2020, Robert Atkins is thought to have been held captive for about a week before being forced to commit crimes for his captors. It will be alleged that the 31-year old believed if he obeyed direction of his captors he would be let go. The last known sighting of Robert was captured on CCTV, in the presence of another man purchasing items from a store. Both are seen leaving the store together.

Robert is believed to have been murdered within the area of Port Pirie and Booborowie and his body left near Orroroo. The vehicle – a 2010 black Jeep Cherokee S556AJE – believed to have been used by the suspect was captured by a safety camera on its way back to Adelaide near Willaston.

In February 2019, Trevor King was the victim of unlawful detention and serious assaults, resulting from a drug debt. The drug debt was initially $1000 but increased to $10,000 and then $50,000  due to the lack of a timely re-payment. In late January 2020, the 41-year old’s body was located in West Lakes and was initially treated as a suicide. Further investigations have led to his death being declared a major crime and the suspicion he was murdered.

Jeff Mundy was reported missing on 23 December 2020. The last known sighting of the 36-year old was on 19 December 2020 when he was recorded on CCTV filling a script at a chemist in the Colonnades Shopping Centre at Noarlunga. After an extensive investigation, there is no evidence consistent with him being still alive. His death has been declared a major crime and he is believed to have been also murdered.

Police have stated that the men have all been murdered by low level drug dealers and petty criminals, who bully, threaten and stand over others.

If anyone has information about the murders of Robert Atkins, Trevor King or Jeff Mundy, then you can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

 

 

Anna Rosa Liva was an Italian national who was in Australia on a backpacker adventure of a lifetime.

The experienced traveller from Pordenone, in northern Italy, arrived on a bus at Coober Pedy from Alice Springs at 10pm on 27 November 1991.

She booked into accommodation on Olive St, just off Hutchinson St – the town’s main thoroughfare.

That night the accommodation was full of backpackers eager to explore the Outback town. It is unknown whether she went out that night but, at 8am the next morning – ­ 28 November – Anna ate breakfast at the Last Resort Cafe a few hundred metres from her accommodation and left around 8.45am.

By 9.15am, she had returned to her accommodation and had a cup of coffee and spoke to staff. She told staff that she planned to go “noodling’’ for opals – a term she is suspected to have picked up during a conversation with a local.

There was an unconfirmed sighting of Anna at 9.30am when a local saw a woman matching her description in Edward St, off Hutchinson St.

Her last confirmed sighting was at 11.30am at the council chambers, at the corner of St Nicholas and Hutchinson streets.

She had been seeking tourist information and had a conversation with a worker about a common interest – the Jehovah’s Witness religion. She had made plans to go to a meeting of Jehovah’s Witness’ at 7pm that night in Coober Pedy.

She also collected information about a Jehovah’s Witness establishment at Ingle Farm and obtained a map of Coober Pedy.

Police suspect that she disappeared shortly after leaving the council chambers and never returned to her accommodation, which was only about 300m down Hutchinson St.

Police believe it is most likely that she had a discussion with someone and went willingly with her killer.

Her body is believed to have been disposed of in one of the thousands of disused mineshafts that surround the Far North town. More than a dozen shafts near where Anna was last seen have been searched and nothing located.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction or the recovery of her remains.

Rodney Larcombe was brutally murdered and found on the bedroom floor of his Warradale home in 2013.

The blunt and sharp force injuries to his head suggest that his killer was angry or quite frenzied at the time of the attack.

The 65-year-old lived alone at the Kildonan Road address.

At about 4pm on Thursday 28 November 2013, his sister attended his home to check on his welfare after he was unable to be contacted.

Police believe that no sign of forced entry suggests that the offender was either allowed into the house, or simply entered through an unlocked rear sliding door.

Investigations have determined that Mr Larcombe was most likely killed between 5pm and 8pm on Wednesday 27 November 2013.

They do not believe it was a random attack.

Mr Larcombe had been sentenced to 20 months’ jail in November 2010 after pleading guilty to six counts of indecent assault. He was convicted of sexually abusing two male victims between 1 January 1977 and 31 December 1988.

Police have previously released CCTV footage recorded at a house close to the victim’s address in the hope of identifying a number of people seen walking along Kildonan Road on the day of the murder.

Police have interviewed several people, with two of those being of particular of interest, but there is insufficient evidence to progress the matter.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

 

Today marks another year since Emma Jade Pawelski was last seen alive.

Emma had just celebrated her 30th birthday in October 2005 – which, sadly, was her last personal milestone.

The 30-year old was last seen walking along Regency Rd at Prospect on November 26, 2005 – two days after she had walked out of the house she shared with her partner in Payneham.

While no one knows where she was heading, her badly beaten and burnt body was found on the side of a remote track 300m from a gate off Chalks Rd in Mt Crawford Forest, near Williamstown, eight days later.

She was still wearing the same clothes and it is believed that she was murdered at another location.

A suspect known to Ms Pawelski has been identified, and investigators have previously received credible information that suggests more than one person was involved.

However, public assistance is needed to put the final pieces of the murder together.

Crime Stoppers has been a valuable assistance in the investigation and was used by a person who has twice made contact about the murder.

Calls received on 7 December 2014, and 26 February 26 2015 appear to have been made by the same person who provided information that has since been shown to be accurate.

Investigators are particularly interested in information about the use of a red Ford Telstar sedan around the time of Ms Pawelski’s death and a distinctive leather belt found on her body. They are confident that the red Telstar is associated with Emma’s disappearance and possible movement from Regency Rd up to Mt Crawford.

They know that in the weeks leading up to Emma’s disappearance it was being used by her and her associates.

Police have also received information that suggests more than one person was involved in the murder and disposal of Emma’s body.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au