Police reopen cold case into Mossman woman’s mystery disappearance

POLICE

Karlie Brady

Journalist

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Acting Detective Inspector Kevin Goan appealed for public assistance into the mystery disappearance of Mossman mum Joanne Butterfield.

Far North District detectives are reopening a 23-year-old cold case relating to the suspicious disappearance of Mossman mum Joanne Butterfield.

Police are renewing a public appeal for information and two men could be the key to solving the more than two-decade-old mystery.

Ms Butterfield, aged 37 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen around 8:00pm on Thursday, June 25, 1998, leaving a house in Mowbray near the Captain Cook Highway. She told friends she was planning on hitchhiking south.

Three days later, on June 28, 1998, personal property belonging to Ms Butterfield was found scattered between a public lookout and the bank of a cane train track near Innisfail. This included an embroidered bag that she took everywhere with her.

On July 8, 1998, an envelope containing her Medicare card, bank cards and personal documents was delivered to her Mossman home.

However, Ms Butterfield was never seen or heard from again.

Mossman mum Joanne Butterfield vanished 23 years ago. Image: QPS.

Acting Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said police had reinvigorated the investigation following new tip-offs made to CrimeStoppers in recent years.

“We are seeking information from people who knew Joanne and have information,” he said.

“We believe that there are people here in Forth Queensland that will know what happened.

“There are persons in the community who have made contact with CrimeStoppers over years, that have indicated that there are more people in the community who know what happened.”

Detectives are confident more information could lead to a breakthrough in the case.

In 2014 the coroner ruled that Ms Butterfield was likely to be deceased and that she had likely met her demise at the hands of others.

Acting Detective Inspector Goan said police had begun re-interviewing people in the Mossman area regarding the disappearance.

“Our information is that she was linked to two men from the Mossman area immediately prior to her disappearance.

“We would ask that anyone in the Far North Queensland community that did know of Joanne’s connections immediately prior to her disappearance to come forward.”

Personal property belonging to Joanne Butterfield was found near Innisfail between a public lookout and bank of a cane train track at Henderson Drive, Pin Gin Hill (near Currajah). Image: QPS.

Police believe given the time since Ms Butterfield’s disappearance, the circumstances of those in the community who have information may have changed enough for them to now come forward with what they know.

“I can ensure those people that do come forward, that we will work with them to bring about a resolution that ensures their safety,” Acting Detective Inspector Goan said.

“We also encourage that if they do have information and are unwilling to identify themselves that they do make contact anonymously by CrimeStoppers and simply tell us what it is they know.”

Detectives are also wanting to speak with anyone who may have seen a woman hitchhiking between Port Douglas and the South Johnstone area between Thursday, June 25 and Sunday, June 28, 1998.

Anyone who travelled along Henderson Drive, Pin Gin Hill and saw any other vehicles, or any people, near the lookout on that road between those dates, are also urged to come forward.

Personal property belonging to Ms Butterfield was found scattered between a public lookout and the bank of a cane train track near Innisfail three days after she vanished. Image: QPS.

Ms Butterfield was last seen wearing a short black dress with shoulder straps, black flat shoes, and carrying her floral embroidered bag. She is described as Caucasian, approximately 160cm tall, with long auburn hair and blue eyes.

Acting Detective Inspector Goan said he was making the appeal to the public on behalf of Ms Butterfield’s children.

“The family of Joanne has gone decades without knowing what has happened to their loved one.

“They are entitled to know what happened to their mother and to be able to get closure. Hopefully, we can recover Joanne’s deceased remains, so they will have a place to lay her to rest and keep her memory alive.”

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