Karen GILBODY

 

Suspected Double Homicide of Karen Gilbody and Valerie Howell

Minister for Police Michael Daley today announced a $100,000 Reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of two women from Sydney’s south-west almost 20 years ago.

Mr Daley said that associates Karen Gilbody and Valerie Howell were both reported missing in early July 1991.

Karen was last seen by her boyfriend on the 2 July 1991, the day before her 30th birthday, at the home they shared in Avoca Street, Yagoona.

On 3 July 1991 Valerie Howell, then aged 41, left her home in Belmore to travel to the same address in Avoca Street, Yagoona.

The women were reported missing by their respective family members later that month.

Mr Daley said that neither woman has been seen or heard from since.

"Police investigations at the time identified a person of interest, but his current whereabouts are unknown," he said.

"Investigators have since taken advantage of the development in technology since 2001, and have revisited the home in Yagoona where both females were last seen."

Detectives from Campsie Local Area Command are now renewing the appeal for anyone with information about the disappearance of the women to come forward.

Campsie LAC Crime Manager Detective Inspector Gerard Allison said that initial investigating officers were of the opinion that a number of witnesses at the time were reluctant to come forward.

"Police believed that this reluctance was due to the links the missing women and many witnesses may have had with a New Zealand based Outlaw Motorcycle Gang," he said.

"We are now hoping that with the passage of time that those allegiances may have weakened and those people with knowledge of what really happened to these two young women come forward."

Anyone who has information about the women’s disappearance should call Campsie detectives via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be given in confidence, at any time of day or night.

Missing women met with foul play, coroner finds

By Louise Hall SMH

Two women with links to a house south-west of Sydney, who disappeared within days of each other in 1991, most likely met with foul play and are dead, a coroner has found.

The cases of Karen Gilbody, 30, and Valerie Howell, 41, have this morning been referred to the Unsolved Homicide Team after police investigating the case said there was insufficient evidence to charge the person of interest, Michael James Cook.

Mr Cook, 56, has denied he had any involvement in the women's deaths.

Ms Gilbody was living in a de facto relationship with Mr Cook at 8 Avoca Street, Yagoona, when she went missing about July 1, 1991.

 

At the Coroner's Court in Glebe today, Deputy State Coroner Paul MacMahon said there was evidence Ms Gilbody planned to leave Mr Cook and this could have been the motive to harm her.

Ms Gilbody was reported missing on July 3, her 30th birthday, when her brother and parents were unable to get in contact with her.

She spoke to a girlfriend on June 30 and Mr Cook told police he last saw her on July 2, when she left their house to go on a holiday. He also said he spoke to her by phone on July 4.

Ms Gilbody's niece Renee told the court her aunt doted on her and her two brothers, and regularly rang and visited them. However, they had not had any contact with her since she was reported missing.

"My grandparents have had to live with this for 21 years," she said.

 

Ms Howell visited the Avoca Street house with a female friend on July 3 to inspect some leather goods Mr Cook had for sale.

Later that day, she told that friend Mr Cook had rung her and asked her to return to the house as the goods were ready to be collected.

She has not been seen since. Her car was found doused in petrol but not set alight at Seven Hills 10 days later.

Mr Cook told police he had rung Ms Howell but in fact told her the goods had been sold and not to come to the house.

Mr MacMahon found Ms Gilbody died at or near Yagoona on or about July 1, 1991.

 

Ms Howell, who was described as a "woman of independent means" died at or near Yagoona on or about July 3, 1991.

Mr Cook remains a person of sufficient interest but police do not have enough evidence to charge him, Mr MacMahon said.

The court heard Mr Cook and the missing women had links to a New Zealand based outlaw motorcycle gang, Highway 61.

In February last year, NSW Police announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance and suspected murders.

 

Bikie Michael James Cook linked to missing women Karen Ann Gilbody and Valerie Howell

 
Amy DaleNews Corp Australia
 

A BIKIE gang member who met with two women before they disappeared within days of each other 21 years ago will not be charged because of "insufficient evidence", an inquest ruled yesterday.

Karen Ann Gilbody, 29, and Valerie Howell, 40, are believed to have been killed in the Yagoona area in July 1991 but their bodies have not been found.

Both women had links with the Highway 61 bikie gang, which was active in the southwest Sydney area at the time, but "didn't get on" and wouldn't have gone somewhere willingly together, the inquest heard before yesterday's findings at Glebe Coroner's Court.

Ms Gilbody had been in a relationship with gang member Michael James Cook but he didn't report her missing. He later said he believed she had gone on holiday and would be back later that month.

Ms Howell - who the court heard "was a woman of independent means" - went missing on July 3, 1991. Just prior she had been invited to Cook's home to buy leather clothing.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Allison, who took over the investigation in 2008, told the court Cook was the "suspect" in both cases but acknowledged there was "insufficient evidence" to charge him.

The inquest heard Cook was suspected of killing Ms Gilbody because she wanted to end their relationship and killing Ms Howell for "monetary gain".

Cook, now aged 56, who has been interviewed by police three times, denies any involvement in the disappearances.

Sgt Allison said 16 reported sightings of Ms Gilbody had never been verified and Cook's Yagoona home had been completely renovated, meaning forensic testing was pointless.

Deputy State Coroner Paul MacMahon, who referred the case to the unsolved homicide squad, said: "The circumstances are suspicious and that suspicion falls on Mr Cook."