Inquest into the Suspected Death of Marek PETERA

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Marek PETERA

Delivered on : 4 September 2020

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Linton

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : Marek Petera was last seen alive on 27 July 1999 at Drysdale River Station in the northern part of Western Australia.

Mr Petera normally resided in Sydney, New South Wales. He was divorced and had a 15 year old daughter, who also lived in NSW.  Mr Petera last saw his doctor in late May or early June 1999. On a date sometime after 13 June 1999, his daughter and ex-wife became concerned when he did not answer his phone. They went to his home to check on him and inside they found a letter written by Mr Petera and addressed to his daughter. In the letter, he referred to his long history of depression, which he described as a type of terminal illness, and indicated that he had left New South Wales to drive around the north of Australia. He made it clear in the letter that the trip would be one way, as he was intending to end his life while on the trip. The letter was dated 12 and 13 June 1999. Mr Petera also emailed his work on 14 June 1999 and indicated he was leaving the State. Attempts by his employer to contact him by phone and email after that date were unsuccessful.

The evidence indicates Mr Petera drove north through Queensland and then travelled through the Northern Territory to Western Australia. During his travels he posted parcels to his daughter that contained souvenirs and photographs he had taken, as Mr Petera was a keen amateur photographer. He wrote dates and places on the backs of the photographs and also some of his thoughts and reflections. He posted his last parcel on 26 July 1999 from Darwin. On the last set of photographs sent in this parcel, Mr Petera apparently opened up about how he was struggling to cope with life and was running out of money, alcohol and his anti-depressant tablets. He indicated that this was likely to be the end. Mr Petera had also spoken to an unidentified woman in Darwin about his suicidal thoughts. This woman had contacted Mr Petera’s ex-wife to express her concerns for his welfare.

On 27 July 1999, Mr Petera drove into the Drysdale River Station, which is in the Kimberley Region on the Gibb River Road. Mr Petera spoke to the station owner’s son and paid for one night of camping. Mr Petera had a good camping set up, including a Toyota LandCruiser Troop Carrier and appropriate camping equipment, as he had often spent time camping alone in the bush over the years when undertaking photography. He set up camp at the Miners Pool campsite that afternoon. Witness accounts suggest Mr Petera was last seen sometime during the afternoon of that day. He lodged a slip in the honour box after it was cleared at 5.00 pm that evening, and it appears he then left the campsite later that night. He left his belongings unattended and his car unlocked with the keys inside, which was very unusual for him.

Other campers realised Mr Petera had not returned to his campsite after a couple of days. The station owners were notified and, after attending his campsite and confirming he was not present, the closest local police in Wyndham were notified he was missing at 7.00 pm on 29 July 1999. Police officers came to the station the following day, being 30 July 1999, and commenced a land and air search. They also later used a boat on the river to look for Mr Petera. The searchers were initially able to track Mr Petera along a dry river bed but after a long distance of approximately 30 km, his tracks disappeared. There was water in pools along the track, so it was felt he would not have struggled to find water if he was lost.

The search continued for six days without locating Mr Petera. Records from that time indicate that after speaking to Mr Petera’s former wife and considering his tracks, the police coordinating the search suspected Mr Petera was deliberately trying to avoid the aerial search as he wanted to die in the bush and not be found. The search concluded on 4 August 1999. The station owners kept any eye out for Mr Petera’s remains over years when mustering, but have never come across any sign of him.

The Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt Mr Petera is deceased and he died in relative proximity to the time of his disappearance on 27 July 1999. The Coroner was unable to determine how the deceased died but was able to make a finding of suicide as to the manner of Mr Petera’s death, given the information available to her about his state of mind and his intention to perish in the bush and his body not be found.

Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Drysdale River Station : Land and Air Search : Suicide

Last updated: 19-Sep-2024

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