Is Barrington Tops hiding state's most wanted man?

Is Barrington Tops hiding state's most wanted man?
BY DAN PROUDMAN
28 Aug, 2010 12:00 AM
THE State's most wanted man, suspected double murderer Malcolm Naden, is believed to be armed and terrorising isolated communities near the Barrington Tops.

The ex-abattoir worker and experienced bushman, left, is suspected to be living in dense bush near Curricabark, north-west of Gloucester, following reports of thefts from properties adjoining the Woko National Park since mid-July.

Naden, who has been on the run for five years, became the first fugitive to have an arrest bounty set on his head since the days of the 19th century bushrangers when then police minister John Watkins announced a $50,000 reward in 2007.

He is suspected of being involved in the disappearance of cousin Lateesha Nolan and the murder of Kristy Scholes, the partner of another cousin who was found dead in Naden's room in Dubbo in 2005.

The series of break-ins since about July 11 have residents on edge, especially after long-time resident Bob Stegg reported his .22 calibre rifle stolen last month.

Mr Stegg, who had not reported a theft for 10 years, has discovered things missing on at least three occasions, while neighbour Tony Snow has also had his place burgled.

Mr Snow said yesterday police had told him they strongly suspected Naden was responsible. Mr Snow's children would not venture more than 50 metres from their weekender.

Senior police refused to comment yesterday, but the Newcastle Herald has been told that officers have come up empty-handed following at least one search near Tomala.

The lack of any large-scale hunt has been criticised by frightened property owners.

In January last year, Naden surfaced in a small town west of Wauchope, where there was a series of break-ins similar to the latest burglaries. Police identified him from fingerprints as the suspect in those raids.

A statement from State Crime Command said the homicide squad was aware of a recent break-in but had not been able to tie it to Naden.

You may not know Naden is 'a wanted man'

You may not know Naden is 'a wanted man'

Fugitive Malcolm Naden could once more live freely in a small community unrecognised by the people near him, the father of missing Dubbo woman Lateesha Nolan says.

Mick Peet wants more publicity on the man who has a $50,000 price on his head - what he is suspected of doing and what he could look like now.

Mr Peet has continued to put his missing daughter out in the public domain in the hope that the mystery will be solved, but he believes the key is to find Malcolm Naden.

Ms Nolan was last seen at the West Dubbo home of a family member in January 2005.

Six months later the body of relation Kristy Scholes-Walker was found in the bedroom of Naden, another family member. He was not there.

Police swooped on Western Plains Zoo in December 2005 but Naden evaded capture.

In January 2009 there were also reports that he had lived in Bellbrook near Kempsey.

Naden had been in the pub at Bellbrook and scavenged at houses for food, Mr Peet said and that’s why the father believes new information could be found.

“There’s not enough work done on letting people know he’s a wanted man,” he said.

“I think he may be in a little town and people don’t know he’s wanted.”

National Missing Persons Week, August 1-7, is as tough a week for Mr Peet as the January anniversary of Ms Nolan’s disappearance.

“I didn’t get much sleep last night thinking about it,” he said.

The compassion Mr Peet feels for others led him to prompt people who were on a missing list to call home.

“Contact your parents, let them know you’re okay,” he said.

And he reiterated the national campaign’s message that it was a myth people had to wait 24 hours to report someone missing.

Mr Peet has obtained more photos of his daughter from her past school friends and he shows no sign of giving up his “crusade”.

“I do get criticised sometimes for trying to find Malcolm Naden,” Mr Peet said.

“I try to get the word out as much as I can because I want my daughter found.

“He’s the only answer I’ve got.”

Lateesha missing for five years

Lateesha missing for five years

by Lea Emery | 4th August 2010

THREE times a year Mick Peet’s sleep becomes uneasy and he starts to feel sick to the stomach with anxiety.

The Innes Park father has spent the past five years in a hellish limbo after his daughter Lateesha Nolan went missing in Dubbo in early January 2005.

“It’s always in the back of my mind. We don’t know where she is,” Mr Peet said.

Each year, Mr Peet’s uncertainty about the whereabouts of his daughter increases around New Year, Lateesha’s birthday in May and National Missing Persons Week — this year held from August 1 to 7.

“I just want closure — they searched the river for two weeks after she went missing and they tell me they have been searching ever since,” he said.

“But we still don’t know what happened.”

Answers may be a step closer for Mr Peet, with the missing person case set for mention in the New South Wales Coroner’s Court on August 13.

Despite no conclusive evidence, Mr Peet and New South Wales police believe Lateesha, who would have been 30 this year, may have been murdered by one of the most wanted men in New South Wales, Malcolm Naden.

“I’d like him caught. I don’t know if he’s out there or if he’s doing this to another girl,” Mr Peet said.

“If he was caught I might be able to find out if it was him or not.”

Mr Peet said he was not sure if he would be able to move on until he knew what had happened to Lateesha.

With the uncertainty hanging over his head, his worry over his daughter’s disappearance has affected his relationship with his three other children, aged between 8 and 16.

“It’s terrible. I don’t want it to happen to the other kids so I’m a bit over-protective,” he said.

“I’ve got one on the internet and she doesn’t like me snooping into her accounts but I need to know who she is talking to.”

Mr Peet said every time he heard about a child going missing, his heart sank.

“I know exactly how they feel,” he said.

“For the kids who just take off — they need to let their parents know where they are. That’s the worst thing, not knowing.”

Mr Peet said this was the first year that there had been no reported sightings of naden.

Missing stats

Each year 4700 people are reported missing in Queensland

99.5% of Queensland’s missing are found

260 people are on the long-term missing register which dates back to 1970