Schmidt, Shirley
Deceased
Shirley Schmidt
Demographics
56y, female
Date of death
1985-12-15
Finding date
2008-01-17
Cause of death
Unknown - disappeared while walking and presumed deceased but cause could not be ascertained
AI-generated summary
Shirley Schmidt, a 56-year-old woman, disappeared while on her usual morning walk from a holiday house in Paluma, Queensland on 15 December 1985. An extensive initial search and subsequent investigation revealed no evidence that Mrs Schmidt was alive, despite checks of relevant databases (Centrelink, Health Insurance Commission, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme). Friends and family accounts indicate she was mentally and physically fit with positive future plans, making voluntary disappearance or suicide unlikely. Possible sightings proved unreliable and inconsistent. The reopened inquest in 2007 found Mrs Schmidt is deceased and died on or about 15 December 1985 in the Paluma vicinity, but the cause and circumstances of her death remain unknown. The investigation was thorough and competently conducted, though the mystery of her disappearance was never resolved.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Unknown circumstances of disappearance
- Difficult terrain with dense rainforest, steep embankments and poor visibility conditions on morning of disappearance
- Possible accident on walking route
Full text
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