Inquest into the suspected death of missing person Jasmine MORRIS

19y · Female·Unknown – not determined

Jasmine Morris was a 19-year-old Aboriginal woman last seen alive on 6 October 2009 in Grafton, NSW. She was reported missing on 20 October 2009 after a two-week absence. Despite extensive police investigation, her body has never been found and the circumstances of her death remain unknown. The coroner found that Jasmine is deceased on the balance of probabilities, based on eleven years with no signs of life—no financial transactions, no contact with family, and persistent community rumours of her death. However, the available evidence does not permit findings about the cause or manner of death. The coroner found several shortcomings in the initial missing person investigation, including lack of formal risk assessment, inadequate supervision, and delay in reporting to the coroner (21 months). The coroner recommended the case be referred to the NSW Police Unsolved Homicide Team and Missing Persons Registry for specialist review, and noted that subsequent reforms to missing persons procedures (2019–2020) have addressed identified deficiencies.