The Coroner’s Court of Victoria has revealed significant shortcomings in the investigation surrounding the 1976 disappearance of Veronica Green. Evidence presented indicated that police never interrogated Ms. Green’s husband, who had a history of violence against her and passed away in 2006.
Current investigators now suspect that Ms. Green was likely murdered, although her daughter remains convinced that her mother may still be alive. Veronica Catherine Green was reported missing on February 13, 1976, and her remains have never been discovered.
More than five decades later, authorities have stated that the most plausible scenario is that she was killed, potentially by her abusive spouse. However, Ms. Green’s family holds differing views on the matter.
There is a consensus among all parties that the initial investigation conducted by Victoria Police into the disappearance of the mother of two was grossly inadequate. The Coroner’s Court of Victoria today examined a series of police blunders. Detective Sergeant Allan Wood, who took over the case in 2007, described the early investigation as “deficient.”
After Ms. Green’s husband, Bill Green, reported her missing, officers neglected to question him or search their residence in Ardeer, located west of Melbourne. Sergeant Wood acknowledged, “Without a doubt, by today’s standards that’s an obvious omission.”
Bill Green, who had a violent history with his wife and was accused of sexual misconduct with minors at a local athletics club, was not questioned for nearly 30 years. Sergeant Wood noted that there were claims Ms. Green had confronted her husband and threatened to inform authorities about his alleged offenses.
“I think the most likely outcome is Veronica met with foul play,” he stated. Jess Syrjanen, a lawyer assisting the coroner, added that while Mr. Green “may have had motive,” the evidence did not meet the legal standards required to implicate him.
Outside the court, Penny, Ms. Green’s daughter, expressed difficulty in accepting the possibility that her father was responsible for her mother’s disappearance. She continues to hope that her mother is still alive, which would make her 89 today. “For 50 years, I honestly believed she left of her own accord,” Penny remarked. “I’ve always believed that Mum is out there. I feel like she possibly thought that we didn’t want her, that we didn’t love her. We did love our Mum and we’ve missed her.”
In 2020, police conducted a renewed search of Ms. Green’s former home and excavated the backyard, but these efforts yielded no evidence. Extensive checks to verify her status were also carried out, with Sergeant Wood stating, “Veronica simply would not have left the girls.” He dismissed the possibility that she had taken her own life, despite a prior suicide attempt.
Victoria Police Inspector Anthony Combridge acknowledged the deficiencies in the original investigation. He indicated that had a similar case occurred today, it would have prompted a “substantial investigative response,” including thorough searches and interviews. He also noted that protocols for investigating missing persons have significantly improved over the last 25 years and emphasized the importance of establishing a centralized missing persons register, similar to systems in other states.
Approximately 20,000 individuals are reported missing each year, with most being located safely, according to Inspector Combridge. The police now refer cases to the state coroner if an individual has been missing for six months.
Penny Green expressed frustration outside the courtroom regarding the police’s failure to follow up on reported sightings of her mother over the years. While the family continues to seek closure, they acknowledge that it may never come. “It’s very, very disappointing to have to wait 50 years,” she said. “I hope that she was out there. I hope that she lived a good life and she found happiness.”
Coroner Ingrid Giles stated that Ms. Green’s family had been “let down” by the system and indicated that she will provide her findings at a future date.
