AFTER eight years of desperation and hope, the Vaughan family of Muswellbrook walked away from Bathurst Court House on Monday with nothing but devastation.
In 2001, their daughter and sister, Janine Vaughan disappeared from Bathurst.
The inquest into her disappearance re-opened last week, but after 10 days and two hearings of evidence NSW Coroner Mary Jerram on Monday found that Miss Vaughan disappeared at 3.47am on December 7, 2001 from the corner of George and Keppel Streets, Bathurst.
Ms Jerram concluded Miss Vaughan had been murdered by a person or persons unknown, and her body disposed of in such a means it has not been found.
Ms Jerram said she handed down the finding with “great sadness and feeling for Janine’s family and friends, who have demonstrated by their presence, their words and actions their ongoing love for Janine who disappeared eight years ago”.
Ms Jerram drew heavily from the submissions of counsel assisting, Chris Ronalds SC, agreeing with Ms Ronalds that Ms Vaughan did not commit suicide or simply run away.
An ongoing investigation will continue and the investigation will remain open.
In a statement issued by Miss Vaughan’s family, the anguish and frustration the family is feeling is evident.
Miss Vaughan’s brother Adam said it had been a long eight years for the family as they have had to relive the happening of December 6 and 7 over and over again because each time a new strike force came on board it was brought up all over again.
“Mum and Dad have gone through hell and have found it hard to come to terms with. We are all dealing with it differently, but each has been hit just as hard,” Mr Vaughan said.
“We have all tried to get on with our lives the best way we can but there will always be a piece missing. We will always notice the empty space in our family photos where Janine’s big smiling face should be, we will never forget her.”
When speaking with the Muswellbrook Chronicle yesterday Miss Vaughan’s sister Kylie Curnuck said the family was devastated it has taken eight years to get to the Coroner’s Inquest and they have walked away with nothing.
“We’ve got as much now as we had the week Janine went missing.
“They haven’t got anything, it’s like she’s just dropped off the earth, vanished,” Ms Curnuck said.
Ms Curnuck said it was devastating not knowing what happened to her sister.
“The person who did this is doing a very good job of covering it up, but the person who did it could be dead for all we know.
“You just don’t know,” she said.
Mr Vaughan said the search was not over.
“This is not over by any means. We will continue to find out information and hopefully one day solve this mystery.
“We ask the community to stay focused on keeping this fresh in their minds and remember the $100,000 reward is still there, so come forward with any information. Find the courage and call crime stoppers,” he said.
In an excerpt from Ms Jerram’s findings she said she hoped the Vaughans would accept that the case remaining unsolved was not because of lack of effort on the part of all those in Strike Force Mountbatten, or indeed of the Crown and both Counsel Assisting her.
“The trail has gone cold. We can only hope that one day, some evidence will emerge that can provide that answer,” she said.
Any person with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or their local police station.
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