Thirty-five years subsequent to her mysterious disappearance, the family of Julie Cutler continues to grapple with the absence of answers. A coronial inquiry into her demise issues an inconclusive verdict.
The 22-year-old woman from Perth was last observed departing the Parmelia Hilton Hotel in the heart of Perth's Central Business District at approximately 12:30 am on June 20, 1988, subsequent to a work-related gathering. Two days thereafter, her automobile was discovered submerged in the waters off Cottesloe beach.
The events that transpired after Julie left the hotel persist as an enigma despite concerted efforts by law enforcement and the pronouncement of findings in a recent coronial inquest.
Deputy State Coroner Sarah Linton, in her report, expressed an inability to ascertain the circumstances of Julie's demise, ultimately delivering an open verdict on the manner of her death.
This development proves distressing for her family, who are not only devastated by her inexplicable disappearance but are also yearning for elucidation.
Following her vanishing, an exhaustive search yielded no trace of Cutler, and she was never sighted or heard from again.
"Though her demise was swiftly assumed by her family and law enforcement, no formal declaration of her death has been officially declared," asserted the coronial report.
"No individual has ever faced charges pertaining to involvement," the report continued. Linton's report underscored an investigation centered on whether another party played a role in her demise, scrutinizing numerous potential suspects.
"Few suspects have been definitively ruled out, yet none have risen to a level warranting criminal law interrogation," she noted.
"Moreover, a majority of potential suspects willingly collaborated with the investigation, offering information voluntarily."
"At the culmination of the cold case inquiry, it was surmised that Julie's demise was probable, occurring either by suicide or by the hand of unidentified individuals."
The two-day inquest in November 2022 incorporated evidence gathered during the cold case operation. Various witnesses, including those in Julie's last known interactions and individuals privy to her state of mind and general behavior, were summoned.
Linton, having scrutinized the information, expressed certainty beyond reasonable doubt that Julie met her demise around the time of her disappearance.
In a 2018 interview with WAtoday, former WA police detective Ron Carey, part of the initial investigation, conveyed his disappointment at retiring without providing closure to Julie's family. "It was disheartening to conclude my career without unraveling the mystery of Julie Cutler," he lamented. "I had hoped to offer answers to Julie's father and family, providing them with a semblance of closure.
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