Eighty-five-year-old Joy Membrey is still searching for answers regarding her daughter Elisabeth’s unsolved murder, as the latest inquest led by Victoria’s State Coroner John Cain did not identify any suspects. During the proceedings, Joy conveyed her profound grief, stating, “All I want out of life is my daughter found” and demanded justice for Elisabeth.
Elisabeth Membrey, who was just 22 years old, vanished following her shift at a job in Ringwood, Melbourne, on December 6, 1994. It is believed she returned home that night, changed into a white T-shirt, and was killed there. Investigators discovered substantial blood stains throughout the property, but there were no signs of forced entry. The only items missing were her white T-shirt and doona, leading police to suspect that she was killed by someone she knew, and that the perpetrator attempted to clean the crime scene.
Despite intense investigations, the case remains cold. A coroner’s inquest held in 2000 could not backtrack the circumstances surrounding her death or pinpoint a culprit. In 2010, Shane Andrew Bond was charged with her murder after he allegedly reacted violently to her rejection, but a jury acquitted him in 2012.
The investigation continued, and in 2023, police sought a new inquest following the emergence of fresh forensic evidence. This pointed to a male who had a prior conviction for rape and whose DNA was found in Elisabeth’s car. This individual claimed he moved the car when it obstructed a family member’s vehicle and asserted he was at his parents’ home during Elisabeth’s disappearance. Detectives, however, suspected his involvement, noting his departure to Queensland the day after she went missing, coupled with statements suggesting he knew more about the case.
Despite the new evidence and testimonies, the Office of Public Prosecutions concluded that there was insufficient basis to pursue charges. In the latest court session, Judge Cain expressed his regrets for not providing closure to Joy and her family, confirming that the evidence did not meet the required standard of proof for a coroner’s finding.
In response, Mrs Membrey expressed her frustration and disbelief, affirming her conviction that the previously implicated man was indeed responsible for her daughter’s murder. She highlighted the unbearable weight of uncertainty she has had to bear all these years, stating, “I cannot live another few years not knowing what happened with my daughter.” Judge Cain reaffirmed that without further new evidence, this inquest represented the final recourse for the case.