Heather Marks, aged 53, disappeared while heading to Leichhardt Pool in Sydney’s Inner West on 13 April 1983. Last seen walking on Glover Street in Rozelle around 9:30 am, her family has not heard from her since that day. Four decades later, the case remains unsolved, and her family continues to seek answers.
In 2008, the NSW Deputy State Coroner declared Heather deceased, though the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. This ruling has not deterred her family from looking for the truth. At the time of her disappearance, it is believed she was involved with a partner named Ray, an interstate truck driver navigating between Sydney and Melbourne. Heather’s granddaughter, Natalie Jackson, is particularly keen for anyone who might have information about Ray or her grandmother’s fate to come forward.
Natalie expressed hope that with time, witnesses may feel more comfortable sharing what they know. She emphasised the emotional toll on their family, especially as her mother is now the last surviving sibling. To them, Heather is more than just a missing person; she is deeply missed and loved.
Heather Marks was described as approximately 165cm to 170cm tall, with grey hair and blue eyes, and she lived with several health conditions. As part of this year’s ‘Forever Loved’ Missing Persons Week, police are urging the public to assist in their search for Heather. The Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, acknowledged the prolonged pain faced by families of the missing, stating that no family should endure decades without answers.
Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook from the State Crime Command highlighted that Missing Persons Week serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing struggles for families of long-term missing individuals. In New South Wales alone, approximately 10,000 people go missing annually, with some never being found. Cook encouraged anyone with potentially useful information, regardless of its perceived significance, to come forward, emphasising that even minor details could provide crucial closure after years of uncertainty.