Inquest into the Death of Henrick OOSTERBAAN

Inquest into the Death of Hendrick OOSTERBAAN

Delivered on :15 February 2019

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner King

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased at the time of his death was 64 years old when he was last known to be alive on 9 January 2017.

In late December 2016, the deceased went to Victoria to visit friends, a couple who had an 11 year old autistic son. On 4 January 2017, the police searched the deceased’s home in relation to a reported historical child sex offence. The deceased’s son who was present during the search, later called the deceased and informed him of the search.

The next day, the deceased went to the Melbourne airport where he hired a car and over the next two days drove the car back to Western Australia. In Kalgoorlie, he mailed a parcel containing his personal effects to his post office box. On 16 January 2017 the deceased’s son found the parcel sent by the deceased to his post office box. In it was a handwritten note from the deceased indicating that he intended to end his life and that he would be found five to 10 kilometres east of Menzies.

On or about 9 January 2017, the deceased drove to Menzies where he parked the car and left it there. On 12 January 2018, police organised a land search around Menzies, but found no sign of the deceased. On 17 January 2017 the search for the deceased was resumed, but was never found.

The Coroner found the deceased died on or about 9 January 2017 near Menzies from an unknown cause and made an Open Finding as to how death occurred.

Catch Words : Missing Person : Open Finding

Last updated: 30-Apr-2019

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Inquest Finding (PDF)