Originally published January 10, 1989
NEW South Wales detectives investigating the death of 17-year-old Robby Coulter have not ruled out foul play.
The youth’s body, weighted down with bricks and chains, was pulled from the Murray River at Trentham Cliffs on January 3.
Police investigating the case are seeking several missing links and are treating it as a suspicious death.
Chief NSW pathologist, Dr Godfrey Oakley, has concluded the boy’s death was consistent with drowning, but is not expected to release his final report until later today.
Police have refused to accept the death as suicide because of a number of missing items, including the boy’s sand shoes and an earring.
Their investigations to date have established that Coulter was at the Buronga Caravan Park on New Year’s Eve before leaving with a friend to go to the Shell Road House.
He left there at 4am and was last seen on the side of the road, possibly heading towards Mildura.
Police located the boy’s black, waterproof parker he was wearing on the night at his flat in Olive Avenue, Mildura, but have been unable to find his shoes.
The white Aerosport 2000 runners with bright blue markings, were a Christmas gift, and still in good condition.
Also missing is an earring from his left ear, possibly containing a cross.
Head of the investigation, Det. Sen. Constable Stuart Livingstone, of Wentworth, said there were still a number of unanswered questions.
“Our investigation is far from over,” he said.
Police are yet to determine how Coulter travelled into Mildura and back to New South Wales.
Det. Livingstone said police believed Coulter’s body entered the water not far from where it was found between Trentham Cliffs and Monak.
He said there was a lot of river traffic around on the day and it was unlikely the body would have floated far without being seen.
Two campers spotted the boy’s badly decomposed body about 8.30pm and retrieved it from the water.
Police are still investigating the origin of chains and two Milblock-type bricks used to weigh down the body.
The dead boy’s parents, Lynton and Sue Coulter, are keeping an open mind about their son’s death.
Mr Coulter described Robby as a good hearted, normal 17-year-old boy.
He said Robby had been living in Mildura for about four months but visited them every day for meals.
Mr Coulter said Robby was in good spirits when he and his wife last saw him at 1.15am on New Year’s Day.
“In fact, it was the first time I’d seen him a bit merry,” he said.
Mr and Mrs Coulter did not suspect anything when their son failed to show up at their house on New Year’s Day.
“We thought he might have been avoiding us, fearing he would be reprimanded for drinking.”
Mr Coulter praised district houseboat operators who used boats and trail bikes to comb the river and riverbank in the area where his son’s body was found.
The team of 28 searchers, including Buronga police officers, combed an area from Trentham Cliffs to Red Cliffs, searching for clues which may help solve the case.
Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen Robby Coulter after 4am on New Year’s Day.
They would also like to hear from anyone who may have found, or have been sold, a pair of blue and white runners, size 8B, in the past 10 days.
FOOTNOTE: The then NSW Deputy Coroner Derrick Hand found that while a 1990 inquest suggested a number of possibilities including suicide or accidental death, he was “quite satisfied” the teen was not murdered.
