Inquest into the disappearance of Katrina BOHNENKAMP
Deceased
Katrina Anne Bohnenkamp
Demographics
15y, female
Date of death
2012-10-26
Finding date
2020-10-02
Cause of death
Unknown - insufficient evidence for finding
AI-generated summary
This coronial finding concerns the disappearance and suspected death of Katrina Bohnenkamp, a 15-year-old girl in state care who was last seen on 26 October 2012. While not a traditional medical case, the finding highlights critical child welfare and safeguarding failures. Katrina had a history of absconding from care facilities, substance use exposure, and repeated contact with her father (a known heroin addict) despite FACS assessments deeming him unsuitable. Key failures included: FACS not obtaining her father's address until October 2012 despite repeated reports; failure to follow up a Child at Risk report made by police; no home visit assessment after police left her at an unsafe address; delayed release of her photograph to media (5 months); and inadequate supervision during her final days in care. The coroner found no medical or mental health issues that would have explained her disappearance, but noted systemic failures in child protection processes.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Drugs involved
Contributing factors
- Failure of FACS to obtain father's residential address despite multiple reports
- Failure to follow up Child at Risk report from police within 24 hours
- No home assessment conducted after police left Katrina at 260 Homebush Road
- Delayed release of missing person photograph to media (5 months)
- Inadequate supervision and monitoring by Guardian Youth Care staff
- Repeated absconding from care placement not adequately addressed
- Exposure to substance-using parent and unsafe environments
- Inaccurate information provided by GYC staff to police about Katrina's whereabouts
Coroner's recommendations
- Refer the death of Katrina Anne Bohnenkamp to the NSW Police Unsolved Homicide Unit for ongoing investigation
Full text
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