Media Releases

Schoolgirl Michaela Godau was born in Germany on 15 April 1967. She migrated to Australia in November 1981 with her mother, step-father and brother.

The 15-year old lived at Walpole Street, Davoren Park and had been attending Fremont High School.

When Michaela vanished, her mother was in Germany after having left Adelaide in July that year because she struggled to find work as a nurse. Michaela, her step-father and brother remained in Adelaide, but had been reportedly been planning for the family to return to Germany.

Police say it appeared that Mr Godau was not coping well with looking after the three children and he also had difficulty obtaining work.

While Mrs Godau was in Germany a decision had been made to sell the family home and a contract had been signed.

In early December 1982, the prospective buyer had come to the house to negotiate the purchase of some furniture and during a conversation with Michaela they noticed she had an injury to her eye. It remains unclear as to how that injury occurred.

Michaela was last seen going to bed at about 10pm on Sunday, 19 December 1982 and was gone the following morning when the family awoke.

Her step-father reported her missing on December 20, claiming that she had taken $460 in cash, toiletries, her passport and sleeping pills.

During the investigation one of Michaela’s friends had flagged relationship difficulties between her and her stepfather. The Department of Child Welfare were also involved.

As part of the investigation, a formal approach was made to Michael’s stepfather to assist in the inquiry, but after initially cooperating, questions in relation to his Land Rover saw him seek legal advice. Investigations have found that the vehicle was sold to a Northern Territory tourism operator in the late 1980s and it then disappeared, ending hopes of having that vehicle forensically examined.

Police believe she has been murdered and suspect that the circumstances of Michaela’s disappearance may have been created to try and fool the investigation.

A reward of up to $1,000,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction for the suspected murder or the recovery of Michaela’s remains.

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.