Police renew appeal for information over 1983 disappearance of Sydney woman Heather Marks

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13 hours ago

Police are appealing for information more than 42 years after Heather Marks disappeared in Sydney's inner west, with her family saying their "emotional distress" is an "endless journey".
Ms Marks was 53 when she was last seen walking towards Leichhardt swimming pool on Glover Street in Rozelle on the morning of April 13, 1983.
She was soon reported missing to NSW Police, and despite efforts by her family and Leichhardt Police Area Command, Ms Marks was never seen or heard from again.
"The pain of not knowing where she is or what happened is unbearable," said Ms Marks's granddaughter Natalie Jackson.
"Heather should have had decades ahead of her of birthdays, of celebrations, of dreams slowly coming true.
Ms Jackson said her family still had "a flicker of hope that one day we will have answers".
In August 2008, the NSW deputy state coroner declared Ms Marks was deceased, though no finding was made regarding her manner or cause of death.
Little evidence has been uncovered and her body has never been found.
A line of inquiry for investigators is a partner Ms Marks was believed to have been known as Ray, with her family saying he was an interstate truck driver who drove the route between Sydney and Melbourne.
Authorities urged Ray — or anyone who may know more about him or her grandmother's disappearance — to come forward.
"We now know that around April 1983, Heather was in a relationship or had a friendship with Ray," Assistant Commissioner of the State Crime Command Scott Cook said.
"We know Ray was in his mid 50s, [had] short, dark hair, unshaven face, brown eyes, approximately 170 to 175 cm tall."
"Please come forward and speak to us," he said to anyone with information.
The renewed appeal for public assistance comes amid Missing Persons Week, which hopes to raise awareness about a series of "forever loved" individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the force was "shining a light" on long-term disappearance cases.
"When somebody walks out the front door, most of us expect them to come home. But in the event that they don't, it leaves a long, lasting hole in a family's life.
"NSW Police are making a call out for people who know something, who have seen something, who have heard something."
Mr Cook said Missing Person's Week was a chance to continue the search for answers.
"We should all reflect on how we would feel if our loved one was missing for a long period of time, and the circumstances of that were unresolved."
In NSW alone, approximately 28 people go missing every day, most of which are found almost immediately.
Less than 1 per cent go on to become long-term missing persons, which refers to any person missing for over 90 days.
For the loved ones of Ms Marks, their wait for closure remains.
"To everyone else my grandmother is a missing person, but to us she is just really missed."