Sally Leydon, investigative partner Joni Condos and podcast production company Podshape have combined to continue the search for answers for Sally’s missing mother, Marion Barter. This follows from Sally’s podcast The Lady Vanishes with the Seven Network, which has had more than 22 million downloads worldwide.
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The new podcast, The Missing Matter: The next chapter in the search for Marion Barter, takes the investigation further with never-before-heard details from the brief of evidence and new leads from Sally and Joni’s global trip to retrace Marion’s steps in 1997. This series will also feature conversations with people who emerged after the first podcast dedicated to helping Sally uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance. There is also exclusive bonus content, including photos and videos.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Sally has dedicated nearly 28 years to the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Marion who was a respected Award-winning Australian teacher.
Marion was last seen at a bus stop in Southport, Queensland in June 1997 ahead of a planned year-long trip to the UK and Europe. Just before her departure, she had made significant life changes which she had not informed her family about including selling her home at a loss of $15,000, resigning from her job at The Southport School and legally changing her name to Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel.
Initially, authorities said Marion’s disappearance was voluntary saying she had returned to Australia and didn’t wish to be contacted. After only 6 weeks of her planned year long holiday, Marion’s passport shows her re-entering Brisbane Airport where she said on her incoming passenger card she was staying at the Novotel Hotel, Brisbane, for 8 days. Marion’s Medicare card was used a couple of days later at an optometrist at Grafton Shopping World in Northern NSW then there were a series of large cash withdrawals in both Byron Bay and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. The final proof of life was on the October 15 1997 when $80,000 was electronically transferred to another unknown account.
When Marion did not contact her son Owen on his birthday 3 days later this set off alarm bells for Sally.
In 2019 all proof of life checks failed to find any trace of Marion or Florabella. She was finally placed on the National Missing Persons register and NSW Police announced a $250,000 reward for information. The Lady Vanishes and the renewed interest led to a coronial inquest in New South Wales which commenced in June 2021, with the reward was updated to $500,000.
In February 2024, State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan declared Marion deceased, estimating her death occurred sometime around the October 15, 1997 cash withdrawal. The coroner criticised the initial police investigation for its inadequacy and highlighted the suspicious role of Marion’s former lover, convicted conman Ric Blum, who was found to have exploited her financially and lied during the inquest. No charges were recommended or laid against Blum.
Sally continues her quest for justice, advocating for systemic reforms in handling missing persons cases and supporting other families facing similar tragedies. Her unwavering determination has transformed a personal tragedy into a broader campaign for accountability and change.
The first episode of The Missing Matter will be available ad-free for subscribers on Apple Podcasts on May 12, with the series free to all listeners two weeks later. Listen to the trailer here.
Main image: Sally Leydon left & Joni Condos