Michaela GODAU
Michaela GODAU
Michaela Godau with stepfather Herwarth Godau.
Herwarth and Emmi Godau in December 1982. Herwarth Godau’s Land Rover was sold before it could be checked by police forensic experts.
Above - Age progressed image of how Michaela may look today.
The disappearance of Michaela Godau (15) who disappeared from her Elizabeth Field (now Davoren Park) home overnight on 19-20 December 1982.
Michaela Godau was born in Germany in 1967, but in November 1981 her family, including her mother Emmi and adopted father Herwarth moved to Davoren Park, which was then known as Elizabeth Field.
In July 1982 the 15-year-old’s mother returned to Germany to work leaving Michaela, her brother Axel, and Herwarth at the Davoren Park address. About 10pm on 19 December, Michaela went to bed, and by the morning of 20 December she was missing.
Her father reported her missing at 5.35pm that day and she
has not been seen since.
Some of her personal items, cash and her passport were missing, but Detectives
who investigated the circumstances of the case believe that Michaela may have
met with foul play.
SHE was a troubled teen that had a strained relationship with her stepfather — and after she went missing in 1982, he soon began to refuse to co-operate with police. Her mother still believes she’s alive.
For the past 35 years, Emmi Godau has been clinging to the hope that her missing daughter, Michaela, is still alive.
Even now, her mind often drifts back and she remembers the smiling face of the 14-year-old who simply vanished from their home.
“She was certainly challenging as a teenager, she was headstrong. She liked her sport and music, but she didn’t like going to school,’’ Mrs Godau said.
When Michaela disappeared in December 1982, her stepfather, Herwarth Godau, told police she had simply run away and taken some cash, toiletries and her passport.
But what he didn’t tell police was that child-welfare authorities had intervened several months prior to this amid concerns about Herwarth Godau’s relationship with his 15-year-old stepdaughter.
Initially cooperative with detectives investigating the mystery, Mr Godau hired a lawyer when they started to dig deeper into his activities following her disappearance.
While Major Crime detectives believe Michaela is no longer alive, Mrs Godau, 70, believes otherwise.
“I am a positive person and until I’m shown proof, I will always hope she is alive, that she ran away because she did not want to move back to Germany with the family,’’ she said.
“Maybe she arranged somehow that she could stay in Australia. It’s possible she has run away or she could have met with foul play.
“There is nothing — until something is found, I don’t know this way or this way.
“Maybe I will never get resolution, maybe I will but that’s something I’m still hoping for.’’
Mrs Godau, who has worked as a nurse in Victoria since 1988, said Michaela had a good relationship with her stepfather.
“They got on quite well. When she wanted something, she would always go to him instead of me. She knew she would get her way,’’ she said.
She said her two sons, Axel, who works in Indonesia, and Jack, who lives in Berlin, remembered Michaela fondly.
Major Crime case officer Detective Sergeant Paul Ward said he suspects the circumstances of Michaela’s disappearance may have been “concocted’’ to try to fool police.
The Godau family had been living in Walpole St at Elizabeth Field, now Davoren Park, when Michaela vanished on Sunday, December 19, 1982. She and elder brother Axel had been attending Fremont High School after the family emigrated to Adelaide in late 1981. Younger brother Jack was not yet attending school.
When Michaela vanished, Mrs Godau was in Germany after having left Adelaide in July that year because she struggled to find work as a nurse. Because of this situation, the family had been planning to return to Germany.
Det-Sgt Sgt Ward said it appeared that Mr Godau was not coping well with looking after the three children and he also had difficulty obtaining work.
He said Michaela was a quiet girl with few friends. Concerns had been raised by one of her friend’s that there “may have been some issues at home’’ and although not entirely clear what they were, there was some suggestion of friction between her and her stepfather.
“The concerns started at school with her friend. Michaela appeared to be withdrawn at that time and had spoken about issues,’’ Det-Sgt Ward said.
“There were some relationship difficulties between them. The Department of Child Welfare became involved.’’
Det-Sgt Ward said while Mrs Godau was in Germany a decision had been made to sell the family home and a contract had been signed. In early December 1982, the prospective buyer had come to the house to negotiate the purchase of some furniture.
“When that person arrived at the property he had a conversation with Michaela and noticed she had an injury to her eye. It is unclear how that occurred,’’ Det-Sgt Ward said.
“On the night of the 19th, Michaela reportedly went to bed about 10pm and when the family woke the following morning she was gone.’’
Mr Godau reported her missing on December 20, claiming that she had taken $460 in cash, some toiletries, her passport and, strangely, some sleeping pills.
“Back then, $460 was a significant amount of money and given that the family was struggling — the father was out of work — it is unexplained,’’ Det-Sgt Ward said.
“The inference from that is those items would suggest to any investigator she has run away.’’
Det-Sgt Ward said a formal approach was made to Mr Godau to assist in the inquiry which led to him engaging a lawyer.
“He spoke to police initially but when he was asked about his Land Rover, he sought legal advice and that was it,’’ he said.
Investigations have revealed he sold the vehicle to a Northern Territory tourism operator in the late 1980s and it then disappeared.
“The opportunity to have that vehicle forensically examined was lost,’’ Det-Sgt Ward said.
Mr Godau, who is now in his 70s, now lives at Salisbury Downs. Somewhat strangely, several businesses he has operated since Michaela vanished have featured her name.
The Godau case is an historical example where government agencies did not communicate as well with one another. In all likelihood, if welfare authorities and police were more co-ordinated back then the outcome could have been different for Michaela.
Child welfare authorities were aware concerns had been raised about Michaela’s wellbeing and alarm bells were ringing. They had even intervened, placing her in the care of Anglicare for short periods in order to defuse the issues at home but police were not advised.
It was over a decade ago that Major Crime detectives were able to obtain her file which contained vital information concerning allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Det-Sgt Sgt Ward said obtaining the file had assisted the investigation and had shed light on Michaela’s circumstances.
“A review of the information reveals there were alarm bells raised — a number of issues identified in the file raised investigators concerns,’’ he said.
“There is certainly a very different regime in place now where we have excellent co-operation with Families SA.’’
Det-Sgt Ward said other immigrant friends of the Godau family were reluctant to speak with police at the time and he urged them to now come forward if they had information that could assist the inquiry.
Mr Godau could not be contacted for comment.
A $1 million reward is available for anyone with information that can help solve the case or locate Michaela’s body.
Posted on 19/12/2019 Crimestoppers SA
Schoolgirl Michaela Godau was born in Germany on 15 April 1967.
She migrated to Australia in November 1981 with her mother, step-father and brother.
The 15-year old lived at Walpole Street, Davoren Park and had been attending Fremont High School.
When Michaela vanished, her mother was in Germany after having left Adelaide in July that year because she struggled to find work as a nurse.
Michaela, her step-father and brother remained in Adelaide, but had been reportedly been planning for the family to return to Germany.
Police say it appeared that Mr Godau was not coping well with looking after the three children and he also had difficulty obtaining work.
While Mrs Godau was in Germany a decision had been made to sell the family home and a contract had been signed.
In early December 1982, the prospective buyer had come to the house to negotiate the purchase of some furniture and during a conversation with Michaela they noticed she had an injury to her eye. It remains unclear as to how that injury occurred.
Michaela was last seen going to bed at about 10pm on Sunday, 19 December 1982 and was gone the following morning when the family awoke.
Her step-father reported her missing on December 20, claiming that she had taken $460 in cash, toiletries, her passport and sleeping pills.
During the investigation one of Michaela’s friends had flagged relationship difficulties between her and her stepfather. The Department of Child Welfare were also involved.
As part of the investigation, a formal approach was made to Michael’s stepfather to assist in the inquiry, but after initially cooperating, questions in relation to his Land Rover saw him seek legal advice.
Investigations have found that the vehicle was sold to a Northern Territory tourism operator in the late 1980s and it then disappeared, ending hopes of having that vehicle forensically examined.
Police believe she has been murdered and suspect that the circumstances of Michaela’s disappearance may have been created to try and fool the investigation.
A reward of up to $1,000,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction for the suspected murder or the recovery of Michaela’s remains.
