Witnesses heard a woman screaming "Give me back my keys!" in the dark car park that night. By morning, Sarah MacDiarmid was gone, and all that remained was a cigarette lighter and bloodstains on the ground.
The Disappearance
Sarah MacDiarmid, 23, a Scottish-Australian woman, vanished on the night of July 11, 1990, after playing tennis with friends in Melbourne. She and her friends took a train partway home; her friends got off at an earlier stop, while Sarah continued on to Kananook station, where her car was parked. She was last seen walking toward her car in the station's dimly lit car park around 10:20 p.m.
The Investigation
Sarah's parents reported her missing the next day. Police found bloodstains near her car, drag marks leading toward nearby bushes, and her cigarette lighter on the ground. Witnesses reported hearing a woman yelling "Give me back my keys!" in the area that night. Despite a 21-day search, no further trace of Sarah was found.
Possible Suspects
In 2014, reports emerged that investigators had considered Australian serial killer Bandali Debs — convicted of murdering Donna Hicks in 1995, Kristy Harty in 1997, and two police officers in 1998 — as a possible suspect in Sarah's case, though he has never been charged in connection with it. Paul Denyer, convicted of killing three women in the Melbourne suburb of Frankston over seven weeks in 1993 — the same suburb where Sarah lived — has also been named a person of interest, though he has denied any involvement.
Where the Case Stands
Sarah MacDiarmid's case remains active and unsolved. A reward of $1,000,000 has been offered for information leading to a resolution.
FAQ
Has anyone ever been charged in Sarah MacDiarmid's disappearance?
No. Two convicted killers have been named as possible persons of interest, but neither has been charged in connection with her case.
What evidence was found at the scene?
Bloodstains, drag marks near her car, and her cigarette lighter were found in the car park where she was last seen.
Is there a reward for information?
Yes, a $1,000,000 reward has been offered for information leading to a resolution of the case.