Rodney Stevens
As part of Missing Persons Week police are re-appealing for information to locate a Coffs Harbour grandmother who was last seen at a Clarence Valley campground four years ago.
In August 2020, Anne Marie Jeffery, aged 73, was camping at the Lake Arragan campground, north of Brooms Head, about 75km east of Grafton, with her husband David and friends.
She was last seen walking between the campground and a public toilet about 9am on Tuesday 25 August 2020.
Officers from Coffs Clarence Police District – along with the SES, RFS, National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS), and local volunteers – searched the area for three days but found no sign of Anne.
Anne is of Caucasian appearance, with a slim build and grey hair.
She was last seen wearing a red and pink top, woollen leggings, red shoes, and a beanie at the time she disappeared.
Anne has not been seen or heard from since, and as inquiries continue into her whereabouts, her family and police are urging anyone that may have been in the area at the time and may have seen a woman matching this description, to contact police.
Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim, Manager of the Missing Persons Registry, hopes this reappeal will trigger memories of those at the campground when Anne Marie went missing.
“Anne’s disappearance was sudden and devasting for her family, friends and the community,” he said.
“On all accounts Anne was a wonderful person who enjoyed camping with her loved ones, making her disappearance all the more devasting.
“I hope this reappeal will trigger memories of those who were in the area when Anne Marie disappeared.
“The information you have may be missing puzzle piece that helps detectives find Anne.
Det Insp Sim remined people to keep an eye on each other when camping.
“Sadly, people go missing every year in NSW bushland, so I also want to remind the public to keep an eye on each other when they go camping or for a bushwalk,” he said.
“This includes the use of ‘Trip Intention Forms’ which are for use when exploring the National Parks in NSW.
“The National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS provide the use of these forms, both electronically via their website, the NPWS App, or in hard copy, so should you need help, emergency services can find you.”
Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Harriet Grahame conducted a coronial inquest into Mrs Jeffery’s disappearance at the NSW Coroners Court, Lidcombe which concluded on March 24, 2023.
In determining if Anne Marie was still alive, Magistrate Grahame explained police had made enquiries into her bank accounts, business records, telephone records and medical records.
“No activity has been detected which suggests suspicious activity or points to any suggestion that Anne Marie is still alive,” Magistrate Grahame found.
“Having weighed up all the evidence before me, I am able to make the formal finding that Anne Marie Jeffery is dead.
“I make that finding, “on the balance of probabilities” knowing that Anne Marie’s remains have not been discovered.
“Unfortunately, I am unable to know or record the medical cause of her death.
“I am also unable to record the circumstances or manner of her death.
“However, there appears to be no evidence currently before me which would indicate either a suspicious death or a death that was intentionally self-inflicted.”