It has been virtually 5 many years since Lynne Caporn, Sue Kneller, and Ali Russo final noticed their finest buddy Raelene Eaton, however they nonetheless have vivid reminiscences of the “fun-loving, fearless” woman they known as “Rae”.
Raelene Eaton was simply 16 years outdated when she and her 17-year-old cousin Yvonne Waters went lacking. The teenagers have been final seen attending a Sunday session on the White Sands Tavern in Scarborough earlier than disappearing and not using a hint.
Initially dismissed as runaways, the lacking cousins failed to draw a lot curiosity from police and the media, and whereas family and associates by no means gave up hope of discovering solutions, with every passing 12 months, it appeared much less probably.
However now a documentary collection from The West Australian sheds new mild on the five-decade-long thriller. In Vanishing Cousins: Evil by the Seashore, investigative journalist and collection producer Melenie Ambrose delves into the case, unearthing new leads, witnesses and potential bikie hyperlinks.
For Ms Caporn, it has forged doubt on her long-held suspicions about what occurred to Raelene and Yvonne — suspicions she shared with Raelene’s late mum, Jean, whom she fondly refers to as “Mum Eaton”.
LISTEN to the brand new podcast
Court within the Act
Contained in the courtroom with Tim Clarke.
Discover out extra
“I do know the place Mum Eaton’s suspicions lay, and that’s the place mine lay initially as effectively, however Melenie has uncovered some actually fascinating data that has taken issues in an entire new course,” Ms Caporn stated.
The three ladies, who, together with different relations and associates, seem in Vanishing Cousins, stated they’ve been ready virtually 50 years to share their tales and hopefully discover the closure they so desperately search.
Ms Russo stated the buddies are so grateful the collection has introduced the case to mild once more as a result of it had by no means been given the eye it deserved.
“Clearly, the police view, particularly, but in addition the society view on the time, was that they’d most likely simply run off, however I knew from the beginning that wasn’t the case,” she stated.
A 2015 cold-case assessment discovered the file languished with lacking individuals for “six to seven months” earlier than being handed on to the murder squad.
“It will have been apparent fairly early if it had been correctly investigated that these weren’t runaways,” Ms Russo stated.
Regardless of being at a Sunday session with Raelene the week earlier than she went lacking, throughout which Raelene revealed plans to go to the White Sands the next week, Ms Russo was by no means interviewed by police.
“The factor I discovered tough was that the police didn’t even interview me, nor was (my boyfriend) Mario, but we’d been with Raelene the week earlier than,” she stated.
“That’s why I’m talking now as a result of there didn’t appear to be any effort at first. It simply appeared so unfair that these stunning women didn’t have the complete drive of the legislation behind them investigating this case.”
There may be now a $2 million reward for data that results in an arrest and conviction within the case.
The three associates hope the publicity that comes by means of Vanishing Cousins may encourage somebody to return ahead to assist present solutions for individuals who knew and liked Raelene and Yvonne.
“Somebody is aware of one thing, I’m positive of it,” Ms Russo stated. “It is perhaps virtually 50 years on, however there are nonetheless individuals grieving. Raelene and Yvonne nonetheless matter to individuals.”
Ms Caporn stated Mum Eaton held out for solutions, giving interviews within the hope of discovering her daughter and niece, till a 12 months earlier than her dying in 2018 on the age of 95. Yvonne’s mom, Alice Waters, additionally lived a protracted life, dying at 100 in 2021. However sadly, the moms by no means discovered what occurred to their women.
“The perfect end result I might hope for is to seek out who did it and discover Raelene and Yvonne,” Ms Caporn stated. “They need to be put to relaxation. I do know there’s a place for Rae beside her household.”
WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE HERE
