On 8 August 1994, Robert Deric GRAYSON, 26 years, was reported missing to
Gladstone Police.
On 2 September 1994, his companion Derek Wade VAN DERPOEL,
23 years, was reported missing to Calliope Police. At the time of their
disappearance the pair were involved, with another person, in share-cropping
in the Kroombit Ranges. They were last seen alive in May 1993 in Gladstone. It
is strongly suspected that the pair have met with foul play. Any member of the
public with information which could assist Police is asked to contact
Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000
SCOTT Moon may have seen an episode or two of Cold Case on television, but it
doesn't get any more real than his present job.
Scott is the officer-in-charge of Rockhampton police's CIB branch and is one of
two policemen, based at the city's station, who are central to a cold case that
has been reopened in Central Queensland.
A reward of $250,000 is offered for information which leads to the conviction of
those responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Robert Deric
Grayson and Derek Wade Van Derpoel who went missing nearly 20 years ago.
The pair was involved, with another person, in share-cropping in the Kroombit
Tops, about 85km south-west of Gladstone, and were last seen alive in May 1993.
On August 8, 1994, Mr Grayson, 26, was reported missing to Gladstone police.
On September 2, 1994, his companion Mr Van Derpoel, 23, was reported missing to
Calliope police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Moon said information from a phone call several months
ago prompted a review of the file and the case was now officially reopened.
He said further information from witnesses supported the theory the pair met
with foul play. However, he didn't detail the information.
Det Snr Sgt Moon, who has a background in solving old crimes, is being supported
by Inspector Tony Wood, also based out of Rockhampton, who had the lead role in
the initial investigation.
"People should come forward without fear," Det Snr Sgt Moon said.
"If you were afraid then, there's no need to be now.
"It is often the smallest piece of information that can make all the
difference."
Anyone with information should call 1800 333 000.
Hope for $250K reward to
spark cold case clues
By Stephanie Fitzpatrick
Posted
Police are urging more people to come forward with information about the
disappearance and suspected murder of two men near Gladstone, almost 20 years
ago.
Robert Deric Grayson, 26, and Derek Wade Van Derpoel, 23, vanished while crop
sitting in the Kroombit Tops area in September 1994.
Rockhampton officer-in-charge Scott Moon says evidence suggests the men met with
"foul play".
Queensland police are offering a $250,000 reward for those with information that
leads to the arrest or conviction of those involved.
Sergeant Moon says police have only received one telephone call since the cold
case reopened last week.
"We have received one telephone call that confirmed information that we already
knew but other than that, as I've stated previously, there are many challenges
involved in cold case investigations, and that's the memories of people," he
said.
"So at this stage we've only received one phone call but we're hoping to get
more information in.
"Well clearly somebody knows what happened to them and that's what our
investigation is about, to solve the mystery as to what happened with both
people.
"It is a challenge, particularly with the time that has passed and with any cold
case they are difficult investigations but what we do hope is that people do
come forward and without fear."
Man facing murder charges over cold case disappearances from drug plantation
By Megan Hendry
Updated
Police say they have had a breakthrough in their investigation into the
disappearance of two men in central Queensland 25 years ago.
Russell Williams, 51, from Rosedale, north of Bundaberg, was arrested and
charged with two counts of murder in relation to the disappearance of
23-year-old Derek Van Der Poel and 26-year-old Robert Grayson.
They were last seen in 1993, but a police investigation did not open until the
following year.
Mr Williams is also facing a drug-production charge and is expected to appear in
the Gladstone Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Mr Van Der Poel and Mr Grayson vanished while they were crop-sitting a cannabis
plantation in the Kroombit Tops area.
Their case was reopened in 2012 with a $250,000 reward for information leading
to an arrest and conviction of those involved.
Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow said there had been several public appeals
since then, generating a number of strong leads.
"Today's arrest is significant and a testament to the exhaustive efforts of
investigations, however our investigation is not over yet," he said.
Inspector Shadlow said the arrest was the culmination of dogged detective work.
"It just goes to show the tenacity of investigators involved in this," he
said.
"We've got a group of dedicated detectives in Gladstone here as well as the
assistance from the homicide investigation group at our Crime Command in
Brisbane.
"They've been working doggedly on this for a number of months, revisiting a
number of people, revisiting statements, revisiting all the evidence we have in
relation to it."
He said Mr Williams was known to police.
"He has been a person of interest in this investigation for quite some time," he
said.
Mr Grayson's father Victor Grayson said police informed him of the arrest this
morning.
He said he had always held out hope someone would be held responsible for his
son's death.
"Every now and then they come and they open up [the case] and they have another
look at it," he said.
"This time, it looks like they've hit dirt.
"I wasn't expecting it so soon — I only found out they were re-opening the case
last week."
Mr Grayson said he hoped police would recover his son's remains.
"They said they are going to search up there but that's a big area and a long
time ago," he said.
Reward remains in place
Detective Inspector Shadlow said police were still appealing to the public for
information, and he urged anyone with information to contact them.
"We won't rule out the fact that more than one person was involved in this crime
and we are seeking further information from the public," he said.
"We do have theories in relation to the cause of death and at this stage I'm not
willing to disclose them."
Police said the $250,000 reward remains in place and appropriate indemnity from
prosecution will also be recommended for any accomplice.
Queensland murder victims 'were minding drugs'
Two men murdered in central Queensland were watching substantial drug crops for
the man accused of killing them 25 years ago, police allege.
Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel were last seen alive in Gladstone in May
1993 and following extensive investigations a 51-year-old man was charged with
their murders and drug production on Monday.
"He has been a person of interest in this investigation for quite some time,"
Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow told reporters.
Police allege the men were minding marijuana planted in Kroombit Tops National
Park when they disappeared.
"We do have theories in relation to the cause of death and at this stage I'm not
willing to disclose them," Det Insp Shadlow said.
The national park has been searched several times but the men's bodies have not
been found.
So far, more than 100 people have been questioned and investigations into the
alleged murders continue with police looking at whether another person was
involved.
A $250,000 reward was offered for information which leads to a conviction over
the murders.
The accused is due to front Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
TIMELINE: How the double murder unfolded over 25 years
Gladstone Observer
More than 20 years after Robert Grayson and Derek Van Van Der Poel were last
seen, the mystery could be over.
Today Russell Williams, a 51-year-old Rosedale man, is expected to front court
on two charges of murder and one count of drug production, in relation to the
long-running investigation.
Here is how it has unfolded:
May 1993 - Robert Grayson and
Derek Van Der Poel last seen alive in Gladstone.
Late May 1993 - Robert Grayson and
Derek Van Der Poel are dropped off in Kroombit Tops National Park near the
location of the cannabis crop they were tending to.
May/June 1993 - Alleged murder of
Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel occurs.
June 1993 - Persons responsible
for the cannabis crop realise Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel are missing
but fail to report it to police.
August 8, 1994 - Robert Grayson
reported missing.
September 2, 1994 - Mrs Jean
Fisher files a missing persons report with Calliope Police in relation to her
grandson Robert Grayson.
September 4, 1994 - Grayson's
companion Derek Van Der Poel reported as missing.
Late February 1995 - Detectives
search the Kroombit Tops crop location, finding an abandoned campsite believed
to have been used by the men.
August 7, 2004 - A $100,000 reward
is posted by police for any information that could lead to the apprehension of
persons responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Robert Grayson
and Derek Van Der Poel .
December 3, 2004 - Police and
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence increases reward to $250,000.
May 4, 2006 - Police reveal a
witness has come forward in relation to the murders of Robert Grayson and Derek
Van Der Poel.
May 11, 2006 - An anonymous male
caller provides police with information in relation to the murders of both men.
May 12, 2006 - Police appeal to
the anonymous caller to contact them again in relation to the crucial
information he earlier provided.
August 7, 2007 - Police renew
appeal as part of National Missing Persons' Week.
January 29, 2018 - Man arrested
and charged.
Police to search remote Kroombit Tops National Park for remains of
alleged murder victims
Jacob Miley, The Courier-Mail
INVESTIGATORS will today relaunch their efforts to locate the
bodies of two “crop sitters” who went missing in Central
Queensland in 1993.
It comes as Russell Williams, 51, of Rosedale, was charged earlier
in the week with two counts of murder and drug production following
an “exhaustive” investigation.
It is understood police will allege Williams murdered Robert Grayson
and Derek Van Der Poel, who were last seen alive in May 1993,
because he believed they were stealing from him.
It is believed they were watching a marijuana crop in the Kroombit
Tops National Park at the time.
Investigators from Gladstone CIB and the Homicide Investigation Unit
will begin a co-ordinated search of the national park in attempt to
locate the remains of Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel.
Rockhampton Police Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow said general
duties police, detectives from Gladstone CIB, and the Homicide Group
and SES volunteers will be involved in the search.
“Our focus is on a specific area within the National Park and we
will be utilising our search capabilities in addition to the use of
human remains detection specialist dogs,” Det Insp Shadlow said.
Det Insp Shadlow said investigators were making inquiries over the
possible involvement of other people in the offences.
A $250,000 reward remains in place for information which leads to
the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible
for the disappearance and suspected murder of Robert Grayson and
Derek Van Der Poel.
An appropriate indemnity from prosecution will also be recommended
for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the
crime, who first gives such information.
Det Insp Shadlow will speak to media later this afternoon.
Gladstone police confirm hunt for accomplices in
25-year double murder case
As authorities scour parts of a central Queensland national
park, police have confirmed they have "other persons of
interest" in the 25-year-old double-homicide case, despite
already charging a man with murder.
The investigation into the 1993 disappearance of Robert Grayson,
26, and Derek Van Der Poel, 23, had become a cold case until
Monday, when detectives
announced a breakthrough arrest.
Russell James Williams, 51, was charged with two counts of
murder and drug production on Monday, with police alleging the
two victims and the accused were involved in the "substantial"
production of cannabis in a national park south-west of
Gladstone.
Police, 60 SES personnel and a search dog specialising in human
remains detection were expected to spend the weekend searching a
300-square-metre section of Kroombit Tops National Park, about
90 kilometres south-west of Gladstone, for the bodies of Grayson
and Van Der Poel.
Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow said the national park had
been searched before, but authorities were "rounding up the
resources to have one final look in that area".
He said additional members of the public had come forward
with information since the arrest of Mr Williams.
However, police said they had not had new information from
the public or the accused regarding the national park, with
the search to cover areas around and adjacent to the alleged
cannabis crop.
“We just ask that people do look inside themselves and look
at their conscious,” Inspector Shadlow said as part of a
public appeal for further information.
A $250,000 reward remains in place for information that
leads police to those responsible for the disappearance and
murder of Grayson and Van Der Poel.
An appropriate indemnity from prosecution will also be
recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who
actually committed the crime, who comes forward first.
Inspector Shadlow said more than 100 people had been
interviewed by police during the 25-year investigation,
which was re-examined during the past few years with the
help of Brisbane detectives and led to the arrest of the
accused.
Police will continue searching a national park for the bodies
of two men last seen alive in central Queensland 25 years ago.
A team of 10 police officers, 60 SES volunteers and a cadaver dog on
Friday scoured a section of the Kroombit Tops National Park for the
remains of Robert Grayson, then 26, and Derek Van Der Poel, then 23.
The pair, last seen alive in Gladstone in May 1993, had been minding
marijuana crops for Russell James Williams, 51, who was charged on
Monday over the murders.
It was not the first time authorities had focused their attention on
the park, with new information leading them to search the crop area
and adjoining land once again.
"Since the arrest of Mr Williams we have received some information
from members of the public," Det Insp Shadlow told reporters on
Friday.
"Some people have stated they have come forward since the arrest,
they do feel more comfortable.
"We just ask that people look inside themselves and look at their
conscience."
The area carefully combed over by authorities included land where
the crops were grown as well as adjoining bush.
Det Insp Shadlow said a police investigation had identified multiple
persons of interest in the case, but refused to elaborate on what
roles they were suspected of playing in the men's disappearance.
Williams faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday and the matter
was adjourned to April 10.
He was charged with two counts of murder and drug production.
A $250,000 reward remains in place for more information.
A search of the Kroombit Tops National
Park in relation to the disappearance of Robert Grayson and Derek
Van Der Poel in 1993 has been suspended due to unfavourable weather
conditions.
A date has not yet been set to recommence
the search.
Robert Grayson (26 at the time) was
reported missing on August 8, 1994. On September 2, Derek Van Der
Poel (23) was subsequently reported missing to Calliope Police. Both
men were last seen alive in Gladstone in May, 1993.
Earlier this week, a 51-year-old Rosedale
man was arrested for his alleged involvement in the suspected
murders of Robert and Derek.
A $250,000 reward remains in place for
information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the
person or persons responsible for the disappearance and suspected
murder of Robert Grayson and Derek Van Der Poel.
An appropriate indemnity from prosecution
will also be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person
who actually committed the crime, who first gives such information.
If you have information for police,
contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the
You can report information about crime
anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community
volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via
Man facing murder charges over cold case disappearances from drug
plantation
By Megan
Hendry
Police say they have had a breakthrough in their investigation into
the disappearance of two men in central Queensland 25 years ago.
Russell Williams, 51, from Rosedale, north of Bundaberg, was
arrested and charged with two counts of murder in relation to the
disappearance of 23-year-old Derek Van Der Poel and 26-year-old
Robert Grayson.
They were last seen in 1993, but a police investigation did not open
until the following year.
Mr Williams is also facing a drug-production charge and is expected
to appear in the Gladstone Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Mr Van Der Poel and Mr Grayson vanished while they were crop-sitting
a cannabis plantation in the Kroombit Tops area.
Their case was reopened in 2012 with a $250,000 reward for
information leading to an arrest and conviction of those involved.
Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow said there had been several
public appeals since then, generating a number of strong leads.
"Today's arrest is significant and a testament to the exhaustive
efforts of investigations, however our investigation is not over
yet," he said.
Inspector Shadlow said the arrest was the culmination of dogged
detective work.
"We've got a group of dedicated detectives in Gladstone here as well
as the assistance from the homicide investigation group at our Crime
Command in Brisbane.
"They've been working doggedly on this for a number of months,
revisiting a number of people, revisiting statements, revisiting all
the evidence we have in relation to it."
He said Mr Williams was known to police.
"He has been a person of interest in this investigation for quite
some time," he said.
Mr Grayson's father Victor Grayson said police informed him of the
arrest this morning.
He said he had always held out hope someone would be held
responsible for his son's death.
"Every now and then they come and they open up [the case] and they
have another look at it," he said.
"This time, it looks like they've hit dirt.
"I wasn't expecting it so soon — I only found out they were
re-opening the case last week."
Mr Grayson said he hoped police would recover his son's remains.
"They said they are going to search up there but that's a big area
and a long time ago," he said.
Reward remains in place
Detective Inspector Shadlow said police were still appealing to the
public for information, and he urged anyone with information to
contact them.
"We won't rule out the fact that more than one person was involved
in this crime and we are seeking further information from the
public," he said.
"We do have theories in relation to the cause of death and at this
stage I'm not willing to disclose them."
Police said the $250,000 reward remains in place and appropriate
indemnity from prosecution will also be recommended for any
accomplice.
