Mystery woman could be vital link in solving suspected murder case

ONE fateful June night in 2010, Brian Cairney left his mother’s Salisbury house to meet up with some people he’d just met. She’s never seen him since. Then a mystery woman contacted her.

She has had contact with Mr Cairney’s mother, with Major Crime detectives now appealing for her to contact them.

While they do not want precise details of her communications revealed, the woman has indicated she may have some knowledge about who was responsible for Mr Cairney’s disappearance.

Mr Cairney, 31, was last seen on June 17, 2010, when he left his mother’s home at Salisbury after telling her he was catching a bus to meet some people he had met earlier that day.

Investigations have revealed he did not catch the bus and did not meet those people as planned. He had very little cash and no credit cards on him when he vanished.

Major Crime case officer Detective Brevet Sergeant Erin Vanderwoude said there have been very few leads since initial inquiries were conducted.

No motive has been uncovered and there are no obvious factors in his background that could have resulted in him being targeted.

“By all accounts, Mr Cairney was an innocuous sort of person who kept to himself,’’ she said.

Detectives have established Mr Cairney visited his sister the day he vanished and borrowed some money before going to the Elizabeth City Centre. While there, he met a couple whom he had never seen before – and made arrangements to meet them later that night to go drinking at their house. Somewhat of a loner, he had few close friends but many acquaintances.

The trio caught a bus and the pair got off at Elizabeth Vale while Mr Cairney continued on the journey, arriving at his mother’s house at 9.50pm.

Mr Cairney’s mother, Debbie Lines, has told detectives he had a phone conversation with someone and she heard him tell them “I’m coming over, I’m catching the bus’’.

He told his mother he was going to meet someone he had met in prison but detectives have established he was speaking to the man he had met earlier that day.

Before leaving the house at 10.10pm he asked his mother for money for the bus fare but she did not give him any as she only had a $50 note.

“He then left carrying only a backpack and was never seen again,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Vanderwoude said.

“We have established he never got on the bus, was not seen at the bus stop and do not believe he met his new friend as planned.’’

Mr Cairney’s phone records show several calls and texts between him and the friend that night, with the last at 10.47pm and then Mr Cairney’s phone was turned off. The friend has told detectives Mr Cairney did not arrive at the bus stop where they had arranged to meet and he had then returned home. A search of the man’s house turned up no evidence of any foul play.

The mystery female contacted Ms Lines following recent publicity surrounding the case.

“This person has indicated she has knowledge of what has happened to Mr Cairney,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Vanderwoude said.

Ms Lines said she wanted to know what had happened to her son “either way’’.

“We’re learning how to carry it and accept it because we have to get on with our lives because it has happened and we can’t go back and change it,’’ she said.

“We hope every day that we find out what’s happened to Brian, for sure. There isn’t a day that goes past and you think it will be today.’’

Ms Lines said Brian – the eldest of her three children – was a gentle person who was close to his two younger sisters, Bronwyn and Kristen.

“He was a good uncle to his nephews and niece. He never caused us any upheaval,’’ she said.

Just like Mr Cairney’s case, the disappearance of Salisbury East man Craig Leonard in early 2010 remains unsolved.

Mr Leonard, 41, who was suffering from mental health issues, left his home on Douglas Rd some time on or about January 10.

He was in the process of finding alternative accommodation because of strains on his family relationships. He was last seen by his wife and daughter before they went out. When they returned later, they thought he may be asleep in a bedroom but later discovered he had left.

He was not fit enough to walk long distances and left with only some clothing and some food items – including cold sausages and some junk food.

In the days after his disappearance, a family member used his credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Case officer Detective Sgt Shaun Osborn said several searches for Mr Leonard had proved fruitless.

The first involved excavating sections of the backyard of the family home and the second by police divers in the River Murray at Walker’s Flat, where the family used to holiday.

“The involvement of people close to him was examined, there was money taken from his bank account ... but nothing is conclusive,’’ Det Sgt Osborn said.

“The circumstantial evidence of fraud in relation to that account does not take us further as far as his murder or disappearance goes.’’

Mr Leonard’s sister, Deb Fulcher, said she believed her brother had met with foul play.

“I can’t see him just up and leaving; for medical reasons, I don’t think he would have done that,’’ she said.

“After all this time I think he would have reached out to mum or myself.

“I would love it if someone came forward and spoke to the police to help put this to rest for our sake and let us know one way or another – that would be nice.’’

Ms Fulcher said she thought about her brother “every day’’ and remembered him as “a good laugh, someone who was always there to help you’’.

A $200,000 reward is available in each of the cases for anyone with information that can assist in solving them.

 

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