Inquest into the Suspected Death of John Howitson FRYLINCK
Inquest into the Suspected Death of John Howitson FRYLINCK
Delivered on : 8 January 2026
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Hartley
Recommendations : N/A
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : John Howitson Frylinck suffered from dementia and type 1 diabetes. He was last seen by his wife at about 8.15 pm on 18 January 2024 as he set off on a walk at the Mundaring Sculpture Park pm. Mrs Frylinck reported her husband missing when he failed to return from his walk and she could not locate him.
A severe storm on 16 January 2024 had caused widespread damage in the Mundaring area bringing down trees and power lines. Without power or internet access, the Frylincks decided to drive to Sculpture Park and take their dog Bobby for a walk. The park is about 8 kilometres from their home. When they arrived at the park Mrs Frylinck told her husband that they would need to be back at the car by 8.45 pm so they could get home in time to listen a quiz at 9.00 pm on a windup radio they were using. Mr Frylinck got out of the car and started on his walk, while Mrs Frylinck helped Bobby get out of the car. Mrs Frylinck last saw her husband as he headed past a Goldfields inspired sculpture featuring a giant tap on a path that leads to the railway reserves heritage walking trail.
It was not unusual for Mr Frylinck to go on ahead of his wife when they walked because Mrs Frylinck would be in charge of Bobby who liked to walk at her own pace. When Mr Frylinck had not returned to the car at the time they had arranged Mrs Frylinck thought that he may have walked home as he had done previously. She drove to their house, expecting to come across him along the way. Finding that Mr Frylinck was not at their home, Mrs Frylinck drove back to the park and started to search for him. When she couldn’t find Mr Frylinck she made a triple zero call to report him missing. Mrs Frylinck was told by the triple zero call taker to return to home while a search was undertaken by emergency services for Mr Frylinck.
The Western Australian Police Force initiated an immediate, urgent Land Search and Rescue response and deployed significant resources in an attempt to locate to Mr Frylinck. A survival expert advised that it was unlikely Mr Frylinck would survive beyond 21 January 2024. The search failed to find any sign of Mr Frylinck and was ultimately terminated at about 4.00 pm on 23 January 2024.
The Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Mr Frylinck is deceased and died soon after the time of his disappearance. The Coroner was unable to determine how the deceased died and made an Open Finding as to the manner of Mr Frylinck’s death.
Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Land and Air Search : Open Finding
Last updated: 23 January 2026