Inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of Andrew Corton
Deceased
Andrew Patrick Reuben Corton
Demographics
34y, male
Date of death
2013-01-09
Finding date
2025-09-11
Cause of death
Unascertained
AI-generated summary
Andrew Patrick Reuben Corton, aged 34, disappeared in 2012 after years of homelessness and disengagement from family and services following diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia in 2002. He had received involuntary psychiatric admissions in 2002 and 2005 but lost mental health contact by 2007. After conflicts with family, he resided in boarding houses then became homeless, living in bushland around Sydney. Police noted cooperative interactions at train stations and parks between 2006 and 2012. Last seen by Queensland police on 5 November 2012; final bank transaction on 9 January 2013 at Audley café in Royal National Park, NSW. The Deputy State Coroner found him deceased on the balance of probabilities, based on cessation of bank activity (previously almost daily), Medicare claims, PBS records, and family contact since January 2013. Place, cause, and manner of death remain unascertained. No land search was undertaken given park size and terrain. No recommendations were made.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Homelessness
- Mental health disengagement
- Paranoid schizophrenia
- Cannabis use
- Loss of family contact
- Vulnerability in public spaces
- Possible wilderness exposure
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