Renata
WOLANIN
Renata and husband David.
Last seen: Linden Park, South Australia on 2 August 1989
DOB: 1948
Build: Slim
Height: 160 cm
Hair: Black shoulder length hair
Eyes: Brown
Complexion: Fair
Distinguishing Features/Other: Has a mole on her right
cheek
Circumstances:
At about 4:00 a.m. on 2 August 1989, Renata told her husband she was going
for a walk, but she did not take her keys, purse or car and was only dressed
in night attire.
REWARD $200,000
On or about 2/8/1989 Renata WOLANIN
disappeared from her Linden Park home. The last possible sighting of her
was believed to be at a Mobil Service Station at corner Glen Osmond and Port
Rush Rd in the early hours of that date.
Rewards up to the amounts shown will be paid
by the Government of South Australia, at the discretion of the Commissioner of
Police, to anyone who provides information leading to the apprehension and
conviction of the person or people responsible for crimes posted.
|
The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)
|
Friday 8 February 1991
|
Presumed dead
ADELAIDE The South Australian Coroner has found that
an Adelaide social worker is presumed dead, almost 20 months after she
disappeared after leaving her home on an early-morning walk.
Coroner Kevin Ahem made the finding yesterday after receiving no
new evidence about the disappearance of Renata Wolan in, 41, from her
home in suburban Linden Park in the early hours of August 2, 1989, after
reportedly going for a walk.
She had not been seen since, despite an extensive police
investigation and Mr Ahem said yesterday that none of her tank accounts
had been touched since her disappearance. Mr Ahern said that while the
conditions surrounding her disappearance were extraordinary, he was
satisfied he could make the declaration on a lack of any further
information
ON a cold, rainy morning in August, 1989, Renata Wolanin left
her Linden Park home in her pyjamas.
She was never seen again.
Ms Wolanin, who was 40 at the time, left her Verdale Ave home barefoot
in the early hours of the morning, husband David Wehner told a coronial
inquest in 1991.
He said he believed his wife had ``gone for a walk'' after a fight
over renovations.
In 2005, Major Crime detective Sergeant Michael Standing said police
had no evidence to indicate Ms Wolanin was still alive.
A neighbour told the inquest she saw a car leave the couple's house
about 4am, but could not identify it.
Ms Wolanin was presumed dead by the Coroner, but there was not enough
evidence to find if her disappearance was due to murder, suicide, an
orchestrated effort or accidental death.
After his initial claim for his wife's entire estate was disputed by
her parents, Mr Wehner secured a $50,000 out-of-court settlement in 1992.
The family of the missing woman say they have believed for 18 years
they know who killed her and hid her body.
Her brother, Andrew Wolanin, said in 2005 he was positive his sister
was dead.
But he - like the investigating detectives - does not have enough
evidence to prove his theory.
He said he believed there were people with information that might
still help police.
Family of cold case victim Renata Wolanin - who vanished
mysteriously in 1989 - fear they will never know what happened after her husband
and prime suspect dies
-
Renata Wolanin disappeared
from her Adelaide home
in 1989 aged 41
-
Presumed dead, her body may never be found as the
prime suspect died
-
Her husband David Wehner, 62, died a free man in
Sydney in June
-
Renata's niece hopes now witnesses will feel safe to
come forward
-
She never believed her aunt would disappear without
telling her parents
By Nic
White For Daily Mail Australia
PUBLISHED: 01:58
+11:00, 4 December 2016 | UPDATED: 02:09
+11:00, 4 December 2016
Renata Wolanin left her Adelaide house on a cold, rainy night in
1989 barefoot and wearing only her pyjamas.
More than 27 years later her family fear they will never know
what happened to her now that the prime suspect in her assumed murder, her
husband David Wehner, is dead.
Her niece Michelle Wolanin said she was 'annoyed that he has gone
to his grave and got away with it' but hoped someone might now feel safe enough
to come forward.
'If there is anyone who knows something and has been afraid of
him and had a fear of some sort of reprisal, then it’s now open slather. You do
not need to have that fear any longer,' she told Adelaide's Sunday
Mail.
The newspaper discovered this week
the American-born Mr Wehner, who left Adelaide soon after his wife's
disappearance died in Sydney aged 62 in June.
Ms Wolanin knew Mr Wehner could never be put on trial, but at
least her aunt's body may be and given a proper burial even if she never got
justice.
Renata Wolanin, then aged 41, said she was 'going for a walk'
after a fight with her husband over the cost of curtains and renovations at
about 10.30pm on August 1, 1989.
Mr Wehner, a former US Army military policeman, told police he
awoke at 5 or 6am and there was no sign of her. She did not show up for a new
job that day either.
Ms Wolanin said she never believed her
uncle-in-law's explanation and never believed Renata would run away voluntarily
because she was too close to her parents.
'It was all a lie. I didn’t believe what I was being told, never
did and still don’t,' she said.
'She was extremely close to my grandparents and my dad. There is
just no way she would just take off and not contact any of them.'
Her father Edward died in 2002 aged 79, and her mother Wanda died
in 2012 aged 92. Her brother, Andrew, who is Michelle’s father, passed away in
2010, aged 59.
'They were devastated. It upsets me there was never a resolution
for them; no closure before they died,' she said.
Mr Wehner moved to Perth where police said he was likely
'involved with more than one woman', before studying in the U.S. and later
living near Wagga Wagga, NSW.
He was extensively interviewed but never changed his story,
remaining a person of interest until his death.
In 1992 he was given a $50,000 payout from Renata’s estate.
There is a $200,000 reward for information leading to the
recovery of Renata’s body.