Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Jackie PALMER

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Jackie PALMER (aka Farmer, Butler)

Delivered on :4 March 2020

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Vicker

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : On 31 December 1994 Jackie Palmer Mr Palmer) who was also known as Jackie Farmer and Jackie Butler, was at the bush camp opposite the Capricorn Roadhouse out of Newman with approximately 15 other elderly people. The majority left the camp area and left Mr Palmer behind at the camp with a blind lady. When they returned Mr Palmer and his dog were missing.

Mr Palmer was reported missing on Sunday 1 January 1995 and a search was implemented. Police concentrated on the known camps and campsites around Newman including Pumajina Camp, Jigalong and Cotton Creek. Aboriginal trackers were involved in the search for Mr Palmer and were staying at the Capricorn roadhouse bush camp on 3 to 4 January 1995, without success in locating Mr Palmer, when his dog returned to the campsite. The ground and aerial search concentrated on the area between Capricorn Roadhouse north to the Fortescue River beds, using a single engine aircraft with two police aerial observers, one SES vehicle and two police 4WDs. Mr Palmer’s dog who had returned the previous day, appeared to have left the camp overnight, but then returned from the south suggesting Mr Palmer maybe further south. Mr Palmer’s dog did not leave the campsite again which suggested the dog had found Mr Palmer deceased the previous night. The search on 5 January 1995 comprised the same search components as before with the addition of three more aboriginal trackers. A thorough and extensive search was conducted, but did not locate any trace of Mr Palmer.

The Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt Mr Palmer was deceased and had died sometime between 31 December 1994 and 5 January 1995 in the bush in the vicinity of the Capricorn Roadhouse Camp. The Coroner was unable to determine how the deceased died and made an Open Finding as to the manner of Mr Palmer’s death.

Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Elderly walking into bush : Open Finding


Last updated: 24-Mar-2020

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