4th Dec 2013 6:00 AM - The Morning Bulletin
A ROCKHAMPTON man, described as "friendly'' by his worried family,
has gone missing in forest land near Chinchilla in the south- east.
Jason John Vance, 41, was last seen on October 24 in the Barakula
State Forest, where he was camping with two "friends", police said
yesterday.
It is believed Mr Vance, who worked as a tiler, had walked off
into the forest and did not return.
An extensive search of the Barakula State Forest was being
conducted yesterday with the help of the Queensland Police Service and
State Emergency Services.
Mr Vance's mother, who did not want to be named, told The Morning
Bulletin her family had reported Jason missing about a week after he had
disappeared.
She said her son had been living in Rockhampton with a friend
before he went on the camping trip.
Mr Vance's family is now based in Brisbane.
"He trusted a lot of people," his mum said.
"He could blend easily into a conversation ... we are just a bit
concerned about him at this stage."
Police are appealing for public assistance to help find Jason. If
you have any information about his disappearance contact Crime Stoppers
on 18000 333 000.
Large state forest
search drawing to a close
4th Dec 2013 7:07 AM Updated: 5th Dec
2013 4:18 PM - Toowoomba Chronicle
UPDATE: More than 2000 hectares of state forest
have been scoured on the Western Downs as police near the end of their
search for missing man Jason John Vance.
The 41-year-old has not been seen since he walked into the
Barakula State Forest, near Chinchilla, while camping with friends on
October 24.
South-west district crime and support services officer-in-charge
David Austin said about 70 people from police, the State Emergency
Service, the Department of Forestry and resource company QGC had helped
since the search began last Friday.
Detective Inspector Austin said QGC had gifted use of its
helicopter on the first day of the search.
"They did a terrific job," Det. Insp. Austin said.
Since then, searchers have scoured the difficult terrain on foot,
horseback and motorbike.
He said it was likely today would be the last day of the search
for the Rockhampton man.
EARLIER: Police are appealing for public
assistance to help locate a man last seen in a Western Downs forestry in
October.
Jason John Vance, 41 from Rockhampton, was last seen on October 24
in the Barakula State Forest near Chinchilla where he was camping with
two friends.
It is believed Mr Vance walked off into the forest and failed to
return.
Police are concerned for Mr Vance's welfare as his disappearance
is out of character.
An extensive search of the Barakula State Forest is currently
underway, involving the Queensland Police Service and the SES.
Search called off for
missing Rockhampton man
7th Dec 2013 6:00 AM - The
Morning Bulletin
AUTHORITIES in Chinchilla have called off their search for missing
Rockhampton man Jason John Vance.
The 41-year-old went missing in the Barakula State Forest in late
October.
It was not known when the search for Mr Vance would continue. If
you have information contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Search resumes for
missing Rocky man in Barakula forest
25th Mar 2014 7:33 AM Updated: 11:49 AM
- The Morning Bulletin
THE search for missing Rockhampton man Jason Vance resumed
in Barakula State Forest on Sunday.
Forty State Emergency Service volunteers and 15 police
from Roma, Dalby, and Chinchilla scoured a new search area of
202.3 hectares (500 acres) near the Dogwood Camp area.
Dogwood Camp may have been the last place that Mr Vance
was seen alive and well by his associates during a camping trip
on October 24. They did not report his disappearance.
The police search began in the forest near Chinchilla in
late November, after Mr Vance's flatmate and parents reported
him missing. At the time, police were under the impression that
Mr Vance had become lost in the forest without food or water.
One of the people last known to have associated with Mr
Vance around the time of the trip was discovered by police on
the Gold Coast, while another was found in the North Burnett
region.
Spaced at 20 metres and carrying GPS trackers, the search
personnel plotted a map as they made sweeps of the new area on
Sunday.
Search co-ordinator Sgt Gerard Brady said the search had
again been fruitless, but he said investigations would continue.
Members of the public can anonymously contact Crime
Stoppers on 1800333000 with information relating to the
disappearance.
What happened to Jason Vance?
IT WAS not unusual for Jason John Vance to disappear for a
few days.
But when friends of the 42-year-old father of three had not
heard from him at all for over a week, they knew something
was wrong.
A pre-inquest conference in Brisbane on Thursday heard Mr
Vance, a known drug user, travelled from his Rockhampton
home to Brisbane with a plan to use his tax return to buy
the drug ice then sell it.
The court heard Mr Vance flew to Brisbane to meet up with
drug associates but stayed in touch with his Rockhampton
housemate. The housemate, who has not yet been named, told
police the last he heard from Mr Vance was on October 20,
2013 when he was going to the Gold Coast.
The housemate told police Mr Vance had been couch surfing
and at one stage had $1000 and his phone stolen from him. He
said Mr Vance was a heavy drinker and could be violent when
drunk.
The court heard police investigations found Mr Vance spoke
to numerous people about making and selling ice on the Gold
Coast.
Police discovered he eventually met up with a man and a
woman and drove in two cars to the Barakula State Forest
near Chinchilla.
The court heard police found the three planned on cooking
drugs in the forest. But after the three got to the forest
Mr Vance was never heard from again.
The two people who travelled with Mr Vance to the forest
said he had wandered off during the night and they never saw
him again. The court heard the two briefly looked for him in
the morning before they drove away, but left one of the
cars.
Police found the car which still contained Mr Vance's
backpack - but not his wallet or phone. No trace of Mr Vance
was found during a police and SES search.
The police investigation found Mr Vance is likely dead but
could not determine whether he was murdered or died of
misadventure in the forest.
The inquiry will investigate whether Mr Vance is dead and
what happened to him. It will be held on August 3 and 4 in
Dalby and August 7 in Brisbane.
ARM NEWSDESK
Wild animals, accident, foul play? Dad's death a mystery
AN ENCOUNTER with wild animals might have been fatal for Jason John
Vance but his death is shrouded in mystery.
Mr Vance, 42, a Rockhampton father, went missing in October 2013.
He had a history of substance abuse but his family loved him, Deputy
State Coroner John Lock said in findings published on Thursday.
A close friend and housemate raised the alarm after not hearing from
Mr Vance for 10 days.
The friend said Mr Vance flew to Brisbane about eight weeks earlier,
planning to use a tax return to make money selling speed and ice.
Police learned Mr Vance went from the Gold Coast to Barakula State
Forest near Chinchilla with two other people, Alexander Thornton and
Megan Pitt.
Mr Thornton drove a stolen vehicle.
"Jason has not been seen [since] that night and there have been no
signs of life," Mr Lock said.
No bank transactions, no medical records, nothing.
Police interviewed Mr Thornton and Ms Pitt.
Both said Mr Vance went off for a walk and never returned.
Mr Thornton said the trio were looking for somewhere to cook
amphetamine.
"The story from here becomes decidedly bizarre but ultimately a
general version of the story is probably correct," Mr Lock said.
Thornton's vehicle got bogged down near Monogorilby so he and Ms
Pitt stayed in an abandoned house nearby for a few days.
Then Mr Thornton left, made it back to the Gold Coast, and was
arrested in relation to vehicle theft.
With food supplies dwindling, Ms Pitt left the house and was found
"dishevelled" on a remote road, Mr Lock said.
She was taken to Mundubbera where a friend picked her up.
"The story from Pitt and Thornton...is unusual but is corroborated
by other evidence," the Coroner added.
"The story they gave...is so bizarre that if they were trying to
withhold something more sinister they would have thought of a
simpler story."
Mr Lock said Mr Vance's family were grateful for a thorough police
investigation.
Rockhampton's Senior Sergeant Benedict Carroll said Mr Vance's last
known location was in the Chinchilla area, so Dalby police took
over.
Cops performed motorbike and horseback searches, in an area known
for wild dogs and wild pigs.
Chinchilla's Sergeant Gerard Brady got a helicopter involved, and
dive squad members searched a creek.
But Mr Vance was never found.
The Coroner said Mr Vance had a habit of "walking off alone for
hours" when high.
"Jason may have wandered off the bush track and fallen or suffered
an incident with snakes or other predators such as wild dogs and
pigs."
He found Mr Vance was dead, but from an undetermined cause.
He did not rule out foul play but said "misadventure" was more
likely. -NewsRegional
CORONERS COURT OF QUEENSLAND
FINDINGS OF INQUEST
CITATION:
Inquest into the death of Jason
John Vance
TITLE OF COURT: Coroners Court
JURISDICTION: Dalby
FILE NO(s): 2016/433
DELIVERED ON: 9 November 2017
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE(s): 18 May, 27-28 July, 9-11 & 14 August, 2017
FINDINGS OF: John Lock, Deputy State Coroner
CATCHWORDS: Coroners: inquest, missing person
REPRESENTATION
Counsel Assisting: Ms Megan Jarvis
Counsel for Family of Jason Vance: Ms C McKeon i/b Clayton Utz
Counsel for QPS officers Brady, Hayes,
Colett, Ford, Mosley, Carroll, Lenz, Mr C Pratt, Gilshenan & Luton
Harvey:
Counsel for Alex Thornton: Mr J Allen QC i/b Legal Aid Queensland
Counsel for Megan Pitt: Mr Michael Gatenby, Gatenby Law
Contents
Introduction
......................................................................................................
2
Proposed Issues for the Inquest
...................................................................... 5
The investigation
..............................................................................................
6
First response to Missing Person report
....................................................... 7
Commencement of Investigation by Dalby CIB
............................................ 7
Searches
......................................................................................................
7
Further Investigations
...................................................................................
9
The inquest
....................................................................................................
11
Conclusions
...................................................................................................
16
Findings required by s. 45
..............................................................................
17
Identity of the deceased
..........................................................................
17
How he died
............................................................................................
17
Place of death
.........................................................................................
18
Date of death
..........................................................................................
18
Cause of death
.......................................................................................
18
Comments and recommendations
................................................................. 18
Findings of the inquest into
the death of Jason John Vance 19
Introduction
1. Jason John Vance was 42 years old. Jason was regarded as the
father of three children although only one was his biological child.
Since 2005 two of these children have been cared for by Jason’s mother
and stepfather in Brisbane. Jason had been a resident of Rockhampton,
although at the time he was reported missing it was established he had
been staying on the Gold Coast for about two months.
2. Jason did not stay in regular contact with his parents despite the
fact his children were with them. Jason’s parents (mother Debra Marriage
and stepfather Lester Marriage) explained that he had a history of
substance misuse and, due to this lifestyle, it would not be unusual for
Jason to go ‘missing’. Despite the somewhat difficult estrangement,
Jason’s parents have very much been involved in the search for Jason,
the subsequent missing persons’ investigation and the coronial inquiry.
It is evident Jason remained loved by his family and is dearly missed
3. Police first became aware his possible disappearance on 31 October
2013, when his parents attended a police station in Brisbane with
concerns for his whereabouts.
4. Although Jason would not often be in contact with his parents he
would generally keep in contact with his associates. It was one of these
associates, a close friend and housemate from Rockhampton, who contacted
Jason’s parents to report that he had not heard from Jason in about 10
days.
5. A formal missing person report was completed by the housemate the
following day.
6. The housemate was a friend of Jason’s from high school and the two
had stayed close friends since that time. The housemate said it was out
of character for Jason not to answer or return his calls and that was
why he was worried and had called Jason’s parents.
7. The housemate went on to explain that Jason had flown to Brisbane
about eight weeks previously, expressing a plan to use his recent tax
return to make some money selling drugs, specifically speed
(methamphetamine) or ice (crystal methamphetamine). In Rockhampton,
Jason had difficulties holding down a job due to alcohol and substance
misuse, although he had been usefully engaged in a lawn mowing business
his housemate had purchased for him about six months previously.
8. Jason was only supposed to be gone from Rockhampton for about two
weeks.
9. The two friends stayed in touch whilst Jason was away, speaking on
the phone every couple of days, mostly to check on when Jason would be
home and returning to the lawn mowing business. Jason would usually
respond by saying "in about two or three days". Their last contact was
on or around 20 October 2013. On that day, the
housemate asked Jason if he knew when he was coming home, and Jason
replied that he had a few things to sort out down on the Gold Coast
first.
10. The housemate knew Jason had drug contacts down in Brisbane and
the Gold Coast, and believed Jason had been couch surfing with numerous
people whilst he was away. During one of their telephone conversations,
Jason told his housemate about being robbed whilst he was sleeping one
night, losing about $1000 in cash and his mobile phone. Jason’s
housemate also mentioned that Jason was a heavy drinker and could be
violent and unpredictable when drunk, saying "he would get lippy and not
be scared of anyone". However, the housemate had no knowledge of anyone
making any threats towards Jason, or any other information as to what
might have happened to Jason.
11. Further police investigations quickly established that Jason had
in fact travelled to the Gold Coast and appeared to have had contact
with various people in relation to making and selling methamphetamine.
12. The police investigation revealed that on or around 24 October
2013, four days after last speaking with his housemate, Jason travelled
from the Gold Coast to the Barakula State Forest near Chinchilla,
Queensland. The Barakula State Forest is a particularly harsh
environment and is said to be the largest state forest in the Southern
Hemisphere.
13. Jason was in the company of two other individuals, a male, Alex
Thornton and a female, Megan Pitt, both of whom had a history of drug
related offences. It is likely Jason had only met these two individuals
recently, during his time on the Gold Coast. They drove to the forest in
two separate motor vehicles. One was owned by Megan Pitt and Jason drove
her and himself in this vehicle. Thornton drove what was later
established as a stolen vehicle.
14. Upon entering the state forest area they stopped at an old school
hut near the main forestry station, where it appears they intended to
stay for the night. However, after speaking to a forestry worker who was
in the area, the trio decided to move from the school hut and
subsequently parked up on a forestry track. Around this time, it was
beginning to get dark. The forestry worker was obviously suspicious of
the presence of the three persons who were travelling in motor vehicles
generally unsuitable for the conditions and not often seen in the
forest. It is evident that by this time Thornton had also stolen some
chainsaws from the forestry camp and this had been noticed by the
forestry worker. The police were called.
15. What happened that evening is unclear and was a particular focus
of the investigation and inquest. Jason has not been seen by anyone
since that night and there have been no signs of life. His bank account
has remained untouched and his telephone, medical and Centrelink records
show no activity.
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
16. The two individuals who travelled with Jason into the forest were
subsequently interviewed by police. Megan Pitt claims the three went
into the forest to camp, and Jason went off for a walk into the forest
that evening and never returned. Alex Thornton, whilst also initially
describing it as a camping trip, later admitted to police that the three
of them had entered the forest to look for locations to cook amphetamine
from cold and flu tablets containing pseudoephedrine. This is consistent
with evidence of paraphernalia commonly associated with the manufacture
of amphetamines being found at the old school hut. Thornton also
described Jason as having gone off for a walk into the bush and not
returning. The pair say they briefly looked for Jason the following
morning, but then left the forest, leaving Pitt’s vehicles behind. It
had been parked down another forestry track and partly hidden. The
remaining vehicle was subsequently searched by police and Jason’s
backpack containing his personal belongings (but not his phone or his
wallet) were found inside.
17. The story from here becomes decidedly bizarre but ultimately a
general version of the story is probably correct. Thornton and Pitt
travel in the vehicle stolen by Thornton to an abandoned forestry house
near Monogorillby. They were also most certainly using drugs themselves
at this time. The purpose was to set up the equipment to make
amphetamine.
18. Thornton knew the area having visited an old school friend who
was a forestry worker at one time. The school friend became aware of
Thornton’s presence and the stealing of the chainsaws and had been in
contact with Thornton on mobile. The friend was unhappy his name had
become known. Thornton had mentioned to a forestry worker his friend’s
name when he had been earlier approached. His friend was concerned he
was implicated in the theft by association although he was well away
from the area at the time. He nonetheless gave Thornton the directions
to this abandoned house.
19. Thornton bogged his motor vehicle near the abandoned house. The
pair stayed in the house and he spent some days digging it out. Thornton
then left Pitt at the house. Pitt says he said he had to fix a tyre and
could not drive with Pitt and her dog in the vehicle and would come back
but he never did. Thornton stated that after a few days he said he
needed to get back to the Gold Coast to see his child on a contact
visit. He also said Pitt was on drugs and was so slow and he was sick of
waiting. He said he would contact her friend Julie-Anne Sirolli.
Thornton got back to the Gold Coast but was quickly arrested for matters
largely involving the stolen vehicle. Other offences including the
missing chainsaws subsequently emerged.
20. After some three days staying in the abandoned house, with little
food available Pitt decided to leave the house. She was found in a
disheveled state on a remote road and taken by a council worker to a
local school where she spoke to a number of people
and then police. She was ultimately taken to Mundubbera where she was
collected later by her fried Sirolli.
21. After police received the missing person report from Jason’s
family and close friend, and then traced his last known whereabouts to
the Barakula State Forest, numerous searches of large areas of the
forest were carried out by police and State Emergency Services
personnel, including by air, on foot, on horseback and by motorbike. No
trace of Jason has been found. Police also examined relevant sites
within the forest for any signs of trauma or altercation, but no such
evidence was found. Closer to the inquest the police conducted a search
with Water Police divers of a waterway close to where it was suspected
Jason went missing but no evidence located.
22. Police have concluded that they suspect Jason is deceased,
however they are unable to determine a cause. The police report
speculates there may have been foul play with some witnesses suggesting
Jason may have upset contacts within outlaw motor cycle gangs or others
in the illicit drug industry on the Gold Coast. The report also states
there was no corroborative evidence to support this scenario.
Alternatively, the report speculates Jason may have died as a result of
an accident or misadventure, possibly due to him walking unprepared into
a large forest at night and under the influence of drugs. As well the
stories provided by Thornton and Pitt and in particular what they say
happened after Jason went missing were, to say the least, unusual and
required further examination.
Proposed Issues for the Inquest
23. A decision was made to hold an inquest given the unusual
circumstances known at the time of completion of the police
investigation as well as the inconclusive findings of the police
investigation. My counsel assisting and investigation staff then engaged
in further investigation strategies and gathering of more evidence and
witness statements. Jason’s parents provided more information and
suggested witnesses and these were followed up by the police.
24. A pre inquest hearing conference was held and the following
issues for the inquest were determined:
i. The findings required by section 45(1) & (2) of the
Coroners Act 2003,
namely; whether or not Jason John Vance is in fact deceased and, if so,
how, when and where he died and what caused his death;
ii. The circumstances surrounding the death; and
iii. Whether any recommendations may be made to help prevent deaths
from happening in similar circumstances in the future or
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
otherwise contribute to public health or safety or the administration
of justice.
25. The inquest commenced in Dalby where local witnesses including
Police, SES volunteers, forestry workers and other locals would be
called to give evidence. As well I undertook a view of the Barakula
State Forest, in the company of police officers, Coroners Court staff
and the legal representatives of the family. The inquest concluded in
Southport where evidence from the Gold Coast associates of Jason lived.
26. The following witnesses were called to give evidence:
i. Dianne Cumner
ii. Snr Sgt Brady
iii. Dectective Sgt Damien Hayes
iv. Senior Constable Michael Collett
v. Julian Gregson
vi. Francis Truscott
vii. Martin Ambrose
viii. Leonard Akacich
ix. Mark Schmidt
x. Neil Stronach
xi. Martin Ambrose
xii. Kara Knudsen
xiii. Vicki Lee Bradke
xiv. Detective Senior Constable Digby Ford
xv. Senior Sergeant Ben Carroll
xvi. Senior Constable Lenz
xvii. Detective Sergeant Colin Harvey
xviii. Stephen Bell
xix. Russell Greene
xx. Patrick Fein
xxi. Meghan Steiner
xxii. Laura Boulton
xxiii. Julie-Ann Sirolli
xxiv. Megan Pitt
xxv. Alex Thornton
27. At the conclusion of the evidence I informed the family that I
will find that Jason is in fact deceased. What follows is a summary of
the evidence that was presented to the inquest. The central issue was
whether Jason died from accident or misadventure or whether there is
evidence of foul play. Both those scenarios were open having regard to
the evidence gathered but my views have clarified after hearing the
evidence of the witnesses, particularly of the two people who allegedly
last saw Jason.
The investigation
28. The family can be satisfied that the Queensland Police Service
have conducted a thorough investigation. If the family had concerns that
Jason’s drug history placed him at a lower priority for investigation,
that concern should be well and truly have been put
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
to rest. At the conclusion of the inquest, the family through their
counsel acknowledged this and thanked the QPS and all involved
29. I do not intend to set out in great detail the investigations
that have taken place but will comment on aspects of the stages of the
investigation.
First response to Missing Person report
30. Senior Sergeant Benedict Carroll in Rockhampton was the first
person to investigate Jason’s disappearance. He received instructions on
5 November 2013. He commenced by conducting a number of computer related
enquiries. He then conducted a number of enquiries after reviewing
previous police related occurrences involving Jason and any associates.
He reviewed call charge records for Jason’s mobile telephone number. By
this stage he became aware that Jason may have been on the Gold Coast.
Mobile call charge records also indicated his last calls were bouncing
off a tower near Chinchilla. In the meantime other police were following
up requests made by him and making calls to other possible associates. A
comprehensive picture of events was emerging. By 25 November 2013 police
had spoken to sufficient numbers of people to make a call and speak to
Megan Pitt. She advised she had last seen Jason when he walked off into
the Barakula forest. They were able to follow up with further calls to
Alex Thornton and Russell Green. Green was an associate of Pitt and her
partner Julie-Anne Sirolli.
31. Accordingly, as it was determined Jason’s last known whereabouts
were in Chinchilla the matter was handed to Dalby CIB on 25 November
2013. The information that was handed over to investigators indicated
there were suspicions raised as to the disappearance of Jason, which
were of grave concern.
32. The investigations conducted by the first response officer in
combination with other police who were given certain tasks was an
impressive example of investigative collaboration and attention to
detail and should be commended.
Commencement of Investigation by Dalby CIB
33. By the afternoon of 25 November 2013 the case was with Dalby
Criminal Investigation Branch. Detective Inspector Austin briefed
Detective Sergeant Colin Harvey. DS Harvey made calls that day and the
next morning to the Officer in Charge at Chinchilla Sergeant Gerard
Brady to discuss the possibility of search arrangements.
Searches
34. Sgt Brady is an approved and trained Search Rescue Mission
Coordinator and on 28 November 2013 he was appointed as the Search
Coordinator for the search of the Barakula State Forest area. Detective
Sergeant Damien Hayes was appointed the
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
Assistant Search Coordinator. It is not intended to detail the
searches that were conducted other than briefly. The overall impression
was that this search was conducted swiftly, professionally and in very
hot and arduous conditions. One of the added difficulties in locating a
body was the known presence of wild dogs and pigs and the likelihood of
animal predation impacting, particularly as the search was taking place
one month after he was allegedly last seen. Jason’s body was not found
nor was any other evidence of his presence such as clothing.
35. Sgt Brady was provided with a GPS location of the last known
position of Jason as provided by witnesses Pitt and Thornton. Two
further search areas were also identified. A number of scenarios were
taken into consideration the planning of the search, including lost
person behavior; misadventure; head injury; snake bite; third-party
involvement causing injury; or murder of the missing person and
subsequent removal of the body. By necessity the search had to be
conducted within certain parameters as defined by the last known
location and other information from other witnesses. The size of the
forest area made it impossible to search in its entirety.
36. Sgt Brady was able to obtain the services of a privately owned
helicopter and on 29 November 2013 conducted an aerial search, which
covered an area of 1000 ha.
37. On 1 December 2013, three police officers and 16 SES personnel
commenced the search. The three police officers used trail bikes and the
other searchers conducted foot searches spaced at intervals of
approximately 20 to 30 m. GPS devices were carried so that the area of
the search could be recorded.
38. On 4 December 2013, 23 police continued the search with a
combination of foot searching, horseback searching and motorcycle
searching.
39. On 5 December 2013, 16 SES personnel and 15 police officers
continued the search on foot, horseback and motorcycle. This also
included a detailed search of the Cutthroat Creek bank.
40. On 6 December 2013, 12 SES personnel and eight police officers
searched on foot and motorcycle.
41. Consideration was made of a diving search of the Cutthroat Creek
area. On the advice of the Water Police further information was
requested to identify points of interest including entry points to the
creek that may narrow down search areas before divers could be deployed.
On 4 December 2013 a number of police officers searched on a horseback
the Creek area to identify any potential areas of interest of the water
course. This search did not identify any potential areas of interest,
which may have been indicative of Jason’s presence.
42. On 22 March 2014, 12 SES personnel and 10 police officers
conducted a search of the Dogwood Creek camping area. This was an area,
which had been identified as
possibly having been accessed by Thornton, Pitt and Jason in the
motor vehicles. Four police motorcycles and one officer using a kayak
searched the Dogwood Creek area noting the creek was made up of several
interlinked water holes of varying size and depth.
43. On 28 February 2015 a number of Police and SES personnel searched
the Monogorilby area where it was believed Pitt and Thornton had become
bogged and the unoccupied property they had stayed in.
44. On 18 July 2017, eight police and eight SES personnel conducted a
targeted search of the banks of Cutthroat Creek. Members of the dive
squad also conducted searches of the Creek. No items of interest were
located.
45. I am satisfied that police and SES personnel have conducted a
thorough professional search in difficult conditions. I accept that
parameters had to be set given the size of the Barakula State Forest
notwithstanding those parameters were based on information provided by
Megan Pitt and Alex Thornton.
46. The only other issue that arose in the context of searches is of
the forensic searches that were made. Police attended with Thornton in
September 2015 Police at the Barakula State Forest and whilst at the
school hut Thornton pointed out a number of items that he had placed in
an icebox refrigerator. The items were seized and the officers attending
were surprised they had been missed when the area was first searched in
2013. There is no suggestion any forensic advantage was lost and the
Scenes of Crime officer attending stated his task was particularly to
look at Pitt’s motor vehicle for indications of foul play. They
conducted only a cursory look at the school hut and then went to the
vehicle.
Further Investigations
47. DS Harvey conducted further investigations and these were set out
in detail in his statement. He made arrangements to meet with Megan
Pitt. He obtained audio of prison phone calls made by Alex Thornton.
Later DS Harvey took statements from Pitt and her partner Julie-Ann
Sirolli. DS Harvey attended at Wolston Correctional Centre on 2 December
2013 and conducted a digital recorded interview with Thornton. Thornton
knew the Barakula Forest area and had been in contact with a school
friend and forestry worker at the forest.
48. The story from Pitt and Thornton as to what happened after Jason
left them is unusual but is corroborated by other evidence. After
conducting a cursory and brief search for Jason the next day, Pitt and
Thornton left the area and travelled in Thornton’s motor vehicle to an
isolated and unoccupied residence near Monogorilby. The purpose was to
continue the amphetamine cook that had been commenced. On the way the
motor
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
vehicle became stuck. Over the next few days Thornton endeavoured to
dig the vehicle out and when he had done so decided to go back to the
Gold Coast and left Pitt at the residence. On 27 October 2013 Thornton
was apprehended on the Gold Coast and placed in custody. The vehicle he
was travelling in was a stolen vehicle and had stolen registration
plates from another vehicle and had been involved in a number of
offences including petrol drive-offs. It is also apparent that Thornton
had been involved in stealing chainsaw equipment from the forestry
offices.
49. Two days later on 29 October 2013 Pitt was found in a dishevelled
state by a council worker walking along Monogorillby Road with a dog. He
took her to the local school. Pitt had some conversations with the
Principal Ms Vidler who contacted the local police. DS Harvey arranged
for a statement to be taken from the Senior Constable who had contact
with Megan Pitt at the Monogorilby Primary School as well as the
Principal and a parent who spoke to Pitt at the school.
50. DS Harvey detailed the balance of the investigations conducted by
him in his report and subsequent statement. He was in contact with
members of Jason’s family on a number of occasions during the
investigation but particularly Jason’s stepfather.
51. The deserted property on Heitmann’s Road near Monogorillby where
Pitt and Thornton possibly had stayed was identified and searched. There
were signs of recent occupancy.
52. Further enquiries led to statements being taken from a number of
witnesses on the Gold Coast. Intelligence officers completed an analysis
of Call Charge records and further enquiries were made from information
obtained but it became apparent the vast majority of telephones were
registered under false details. That is not unusual in that cohort.
53. A further interview was held with Thornton. Megan Pitt agreed to
accompany police to the Barakula State Forest and this occurred on 21
January 2014. All conversations with Pitt were recorded.
54. Surveillance of Arunta calls at the prison through Thornton
continued in this period. In the meantime Thornton had been approached
on a number of occasions as to whether he would consent to attending the
Barakula State Forest with Police. He eventually consented to this but
only after he had been granted parole. Thornton contacted DS Harvey
after he was released and they attended the forest area on 30 September
2015.
55. A number of other potential witnesses were identified and
approaches were made. Megan Mason subsequently contacted police and the
conversation was recorded. Other witnesses including Meghan Steiner and
Russell Green could not be located. By the time of the inquest and with
the assistance of Police in Queensland and NSW most
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
of the outstanding persons who were identified as perhaps being able
to assist had been located and gave statements and attended the inquest.
56. DS Harvey noted in his report that Pitt subsequently made contact
with police and forestry in relation to regaining possession of her
motor vehicle. Both Pitt and Thornton freely volunteered that Jason had
been with them and they provided a largely similar version as to his
last movements.
57. DS Harvey stated he had made it clear to witnesses during his
investigation that he was not interested in gathering evidence, which
may implicate them in particular criminal activity and his only interest
was only to find out what happened to Jason Vance. By taking this course
he received remarkable cooperation from Pitt and Thornton as well as
other witnesses.
58. Although the family have had concerns about the outcome of the
investigation and the involvement of Pitt and Thornton and perhaps
others, it is my view that the investigation carried out has been very
comprehensive. DS Harvey recommended that an inquest be held to assist
in determining what has happened to Jason Vance.
The inquest
59. The inquest was held over five days in both Dalby and Southport.
It is not intended to detail the evidence of all witnesses at this
stage. Various witnesses provided statements implicating other persons
as having some involvement. These allegations were followed up.
60. In respect to Pitt she provided a statement but was also
interviewed on numerous occasions and field tape recordings were made.
Pitt provided a statement dated 28 November 2013. There are field
recordings and transcripts for interviews on 29/10/2013, 27/11/2013,
28/11/2013, and a lengthy multiple transcripts for interviews on
21/01/2014 when she visited the Barakula State Forest.
61. Thornton was interviewed on 2/12/2013, 16/01/2014, 21/04/2015 and
30/09/2015 when he also attended the Barakula State Forest. The calls
made by Thornton from prison or received by him were also obtained and
listened to by DS Harvey and Counsel Assisting. I listened to some parts
that were highlighted as potentially of interest.
62. In all of that material there were no stand out pieces of
information that linked Pitt and/or Thornton to taking violent action
against Jason. The versions provided by them were largely corroborative
of the other. Pitt and Thornton cooperated with the Police. There were
some delays in that cooperation but nothing that would be surprising in
the context of their drug habits, lifestyle and Thornton’s imprisonment.
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
63. There were some obviously strange interpersonal relationships and
there were various allegations made about various persons and various
scenarios put forward. These needed exploring forensically through the
inquest process.
64. Fortunately most of the persons on the periphery were able to be
contacted and statements were provided or they attended on being served
with a summons and willingly gave evidence. One or two witnesses were
deceased. There was some inherent unreliability about some of the
evidence as it was based on speculation and innuendo and otherwise with
little substance to support them.
65. For instance the relationship of Russell Green with Pitt and
Sirolli and any possibility he was somehow involved needed to be
explored. Given the enmity for Green expressed by Pitt in her
conversations with Police it was passing strange that he was the person
she contacted for help when she arrived at the Monogorillby School. Pitt
also stated Green was very jealous and had a history of sexual violence.
Admittedly she had tried to contact others including Sirolli and her
sister first.
66. Although Green was spoken to by police at the Monogorillby School
he was not been able to be contacted until a few weeks before the
inquest when he was tracked down at my request. He was reluctant to give
evidence in Queensland as there were a number of warrants outstanding
but he did cooperate with NSW Police by providing quite a detailed
statement. He gave evidence by telephone from a NSW police station. He
left messages after his evidence wishing to clarify some things he said.
67. Although one cannot be certain as to the real story behind the
relationships between Pitt, Green and Sirolli, after hearing all of the
evidence, I think it can be ruled out based on current evidence that
Russell Green had any direct involvement in Jason going missing. I am
satisfied he was not anywhere near the Barakula State Forest at the time
Jason went missing.
68. Patrick Fein’s name had been mentioned by another witness as a
person who may want to murder Jason and hence Fein was approached to
provide a statement. Patrick Fein also gave details of his and Jason’s
history of drug dealing on the Gold Coast and other activities. He
stated that Jason had started injecting speed and this created a
noticeable change in him compared to when he just smoked the drug. The
evidence of Fein as to his and Jason’s drug interests would have been
difficult for Jason’s parents and family to hear. Fein stated he had no
knowledge of anyone who would want to kill Jason. He denied he wanted
to. Fein was asked at the conclusion of his evidence by Counsel
Assisting if he was able to give any further information and he did not
do so. Yet that evening he contacted the family and told them about the
possibility that Megan Pitt had gone back to the Monogorillby house to
clean up with another male person named Michael. It has also been
reported by family to Counsel
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
Assisting that they met with Mr Fein a week after the inquest and he
asked then for some money for further information. They sensibly
declined. I do not think Fein had any direct involvement in Jason’s
death and I think some of this speculation passed on by him has been
unhelpful to the family, unreliable and perhaps mischievous.
69. Megan Pitt was asked in evidence if she had returned to the house
with another person. She was vague in her response and said it was
possible she visited on her way back to the Gold Coast but said "it was
a bit of a blur". I think it is quite likely she did return to clean up
the evidence of the drug making. If she did, this was probably before
Police were able to identify the property and properly conduct a search.
The first response officer who met Pitt at the Monogorillby school is
likely to have found the property a week later as he states in his
statement, noting it had recently been occupied but nothing unusual was
found. The property was not searched forensically at that time.
70. There was an issue concerning whether the local police officer
who spoke to Megan Pitt at the Monogorillby school should have done more
to escalate the possibility of Jason being missing. As this officer was
excused from giving evidence on medical grounds, and this could not be
explored with him but we had his statement, a number of field tape
recordings involving him and Pitt and other documents including his
activity log. It was suggested that this officer was confused about the
version of events given by Megan Pitt at the school and she did not
specifically say that Jason was missing or lost but simply that he had
walked off. Certainly there is no reference to Jason being missing in
the initial conversation when the officer spoke to Pitt. In a later
conversation Pitt makes reference to Jason wandering off into the state
forest and never seeing him again. In the same field tape recording Pitt
mentions the missing chainsaws but denies her involvement and that of
Jason. She said this on the basis Jason was on foot and would not have
taken them unless he had organized for someone to come and pick him up.
71. It is also clear in later conversations the officer is recorded
as saying that Pitt’s story was very confusing and he did not know if
she was mad or if he had to send people out looking in the bush for
someone. His activity log makes reference to his opinion she was
knowingly withholding information.
72. The evidence of a school parent Kara Knudsen who had a long
conversation with Pitt confirms Pitt gave a very mixed story and she
seemed to be under the influence of something. The school principal
Joanne Vidler referred to the fact the person Jason had "took off" and
had disappeared. Ms Knudsen said she had told the police officer that
there was a missing person but in evidence stated this could have been
three or four days later. She also said in her statement that the school
principal had also told
the officer there was a missing person and possibly two on the day
Pitt arrived at the school although this was not referred to in the
statement of the principal. This also could not be explored with Ms
Vidler who was overseas and was not contactable.
73. Considering all of the evidence, it is not at all clear whether
the police officer was aware of there being a "missing person" lost in
the forest or if it was more a suggestion that Jason had left or walked
off. On the information he had, and given the confusing story being
provided by Pitt who was clearly drug affected, I can understand why the
police officer may have been confused and did not escalate the matter to
a lost person status. On balance therefor I am not particularly critical
of the police officer. With the benefit of hindsight there was a missed
opportunity to escalate earlier, but the officer made a judgment, which
did have a reasonable basis to it, and even if some action had been
taken immediately it is likely the outcome would not have changed as
Jason was likely already deceased.
74. One other issue that attracted the investigation’s attention was
the reference first made by Pitt to Kara Knudsen as to Jason and Alex
having some argument; that Alex and Jason went off together; and Alex
came back and said Jason was lost. It does appear that at one point
Jason may have lost some of the liquid extracted from the cold and flu
tablets that was to be used in the amphetamine cook, by spilling it on
the ground. There was some suggestion the dirt was collected so they
could potentially still extract what was lost. In her statement Ms
Knudsen then stated that Pitt referred to the argument being between
Alex and someone called Frank. In her evidence she was able to expand on
this to the extent that the conversation was about stealing equipment
and was not necessarily an argument or heated discussion. Almost
certainly I think this is reference to the confrontation a forestry
worker Francis Truscott had with Alex Thornton and Jason after he had
discovered a chain saw kept in his motor vehicle and another chainsaw
kept in the forestry workshop were missing and the workshop had been
broken into. He then saw the two near the school hut and they had a
conversation. By this time the forestry worker had called police.
75. There is otherwise little evidence to suggest Thornton and Jason
had argued.
76. As to the reference in the statement of Ms Knudsen where she
quotes Pitt as saying Thornton had gone off with Jason and only he came
back this was also explored at the inquest for obvious reasons.
Accepting that this is what Ms Knudsen heard or interpreted there is no
other reference to Thornton going off walking with Jason that evening in
any of the multiple other versions given by Pitt. Pitt and Thornton do
speak about Thornton and Jason returning in the vehicle to the school
hut because they had left something and coming back later. This was
earlier to the moment when Jason
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
walked off and was last seen. Pitt only refers to Jason walking off
and not with Thornton.
77. There was some speculation that other third parties followed the
group out to the State Forest. The evidence supporting such a contention
is weak. There was evidence from Neil Stronach and Mark Schimdt who saw
a vehicle travelling on the road out from Hippong behind what is likely
to be Megan Pitt’s vehicle with Pitt as a passenger and either Jason or
Thornton driving. It is unknown if that dark coloured 4 WD utility had
anything to do with the group of three. It could simply have been
another vehicle in the area.
78. There was also evidence placed before the investigation and
confirmed in evidence in Court that Jason had shown a certain
propensity, whilst under the influence of amphetamine, to wander off
into bushland or parkland and be absent for hours before turning up
again. One might have dismissed the importance of this if there was only
one reference to it but it did keep being repeated in comments made by a
number of witnesses who had personal experience of this behavior or had
been informed of it by others. The significance becomes obvious because
that appears to be what happened.
79. The versions of Pitt and Thornton as to what happened next are
reasonably consistent. It was dark. Jason said he wanted to go for a
walk and said he would be an hour, hour and half. He walked down the
vehicle track in the direction they had come from back towards the
school hut. Pitt and Thornton say he was dressed in shorts, t-shirt and
thongs.
80. The next morning they woke and noticed Jason was not there. They
drove around the forest for an hour and half to two hours looking for
Jason. In separate interviews they expressed the thought he must have
kept walking and got a lift back into town.
81. What can be said about the evidence of Pitt and Thornton? In my
view their versions if accepted as true would suggest neither of them
were directly involved in Jason’s disappearance. They were questioned
voluntarily by Police on a number of occasions; they gave lengthy
interviews; voluntarily attended at the forest; and they attended court.
They gave answers consistent with what each has said previously and
consistent with each other.
82. It is accepted that there was a day or two opportunity where they
were together and could have concocted a story. The story they gave
however, is so bizarre that if they were trying to withhold something
more sinister they would have thought of a simpler story. As well they
have been interviewed multiple times and a close perusal of those
interviews does not disclose anything, which links them to being
directly involved in Jason’s death or disposing of his body. Human
experience would suggest that if they were lying somewhere in those
interviews they would have slipped up, and they didn’t.
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
Certainly they were vague about the reasons why they were in the
forest, but that is totally expected. They were however, quite upfront
about most else.
83. As well there is no evidence that Pitt or Thornton had any
propensity for violence. Thornton’s former girlfriend gave what I
consider to be honest evidence when she said Thornton was never violent
or angry with her and she thought he was a nice natured person. He did
not give an impression in the witness box that would suggest otherwise.
His criminal history was redolent with property and drug offences but
quite absent with respect to anything suggestive of violence.
84. As DS Harvey, a detective of considerable experience, stated, it
would not be expected that a guilty person would leave a vehicle in the
forest, which could be easily linked back to the other. They would not
leave one of them in a remote location and not return so that the other
has to seek assistance from the community and ultimately police. They
would not both so willingly nominate themselves as the last persons to
see Jason alive. They would not have cooperated to the extent they have,
particularly Thornton who was in custody.
85. That is not to say that the response of Pitt and Thornton on the
morning after Jason went missing was responsible or reasonable. Most
people would have done more. However, Pitt and Thornton were there for
an illegal purpose; the three of them did not know each other
particularly well; they were ICE users and were under its affects at the
time. Pitt was heavily drugged, Thornton simply wanted to leave and go
back to the Gold Coast. They really only cared about themselves. Most
people would not simply accept the possibility that Jason had walked off
and found a lift back to town. Most people would not leave their
companion in a remote area in an abandoned building with a vague promise
of having her collected later. Most people would not acquiesce to stay
in such a remote spot, not knowing the area and without any food or
capacity to leave easily. These are people whose moral compass and
capacity to reason had been impacted by their drug use and consequent
lifestyle. If more had been done by them at that time to report Jason as
being missing, the outcome may not have changed, but it was more likely
that evidence of what had happened to Jason would have been found,
providing early answers to his family.
Conclusions
86. Missing person cases can be confounding and undoubtedly upsetting
and frustrating for family who are looking for answers. There has been a
comprehensive investigation and the inquest has forensically tested the
efficacy of what is known. In this case there are a few further lines of
inquiry that Police have indicated they may wish to explore
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jason John Vance 19
although it is by no means certain this will lead to any more
relevant information. Cases can always be reopened in the event that
further evidence comes to light.
87. My primary conclusion is that Jason John Vance is in fact
deceased. On the evidence before me I find it is most likely Jason died
of misadventure rather than foul play, although this cannot be
absolutely excluded. The last persons to see Jason were Megan Pitt and
Alexander Thornton when he walked off down a dirt road at night in the
Barakula State Forest on the night of 24 October 2013. There is no
evidence to suggest that Megan Pitt, Alexander Thornton or anyone else
caused harm to Jason or have done anything with his body.
88. Although there was speculation that some other people may have
wanted to harm Jason, the evidence supporting such speculation is weak.
In any event there is no evidence that any of those third persons were
in the Barakula State Forest that night or at all.
89. Jason did have a well-known habit of walking off alone for hours
in bushland or parkland when intoxicated with methamphetamine and the
evidence supports he and his companions were using that substance at the
time. That Jason is reported as saying he was going off for a walk for
an hour or so is totally consistent with that pattern of behavior.
90. What then happened to Jason after he walked off is still unclear.
Despite a very extensive search, his body and any other physical
evidence of him have not been found. Jason may have wandered off the
bush track and fallen or suffered an incident with snakes of other
predators such as wild dogs and pigs. Against this scenario is if that
had occurred in the short period after he left the vehicle one would
have expected some evidence of him or his clothing being found, as he
would likely have been still within the parameters of the search area.
It is possible he found his way to the Cutthroat Creek area and fell,
making it difficult to find him given the state of the creek is less
than pristine. It is also possible he wandered much further than the
search parameters predicted and met the same fate further away. It is
possible he became lost and died from dehydration in those difficult
conditions. These are a number of potential scenarios, and there may be
more, but without further evidence, which of those scenarios is correct
remains speculative.
Findings required by s. 45
Identity of the deceased
– Jason John Vance
How he died
– Jason John
Vance was last seen alive on the evening of 24 October 2013 when he
wandered
away from two companions at night in a remote location in the
Barakula State Forest. The circumstances that caused his death are
unable to be determined.
Place of death
– Likely to be the Barakula
Forest near DALBY QLD 4405 AUSTRALIA
Date of death
– Sometime after 24 October
2013 on a date unable to be determined
Cause of death
Undetermined
Comments and recommendations
I close the inquest.
John Lock
Deputy State Coroner
BRISBANE
9 November 2017