Inquest into the Deaths of Adell Sherylee PARTRIDGE and Veronica Philomena LOCKYER

Female·unascertained

Two Indigenous women from the Pilbara disappeared in late 1998 without trace: Veronica Lockyer (33 years old) and her infant daughter Adell Partridge (7 months old). Veronica was last seen at a Centrelink office in South Hedland on 25 October 1998; Adell's last confirmed contact was a vaccination on 24 November 1998. The coroner found both deceased beyond reasonable doubt but could not determine cause or manner of death. Veronica's partner Craig Partridge, the last person to see them alive, remains a person of interest given documented severe domestic violence in their relationship, his volatile mental health history, and inconsistencies in his accounts. No charges were laid. The case demonstrates failures in early reporting (20-year delay before formal missing persons report), inadequate inter-agency communication, and lost records. Family violence context was critical but not addressed with protective interventions when warning signs were present.