A Woman Vanished 13 Years Ago. Now, a Coroner Says She Was Killed by Her Partner, Who Died by Suicide in 2022 By Gabrielle Rockson

A 23-year-old woman who disappeared 13 years ago was killed by her partner, a coroner has ruled.

On Monday, Sept. 29, Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame determined that Leisl Smith had been killed by James Scott Church, 42, before 12:00 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2012 at a remote area in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, per The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and 9 News.

Despite extensive search efforts, her body has still not been found, according to the Morning Herald. However, Grahame said there was a high chance Smith’s remains were “in the Goulburn River National Park or its vicinity,” per ABC.

Church was charged with her murder, but he died by suicide the day before a verdict was set to be delivered in July 2022, the outlets reported. As a result, the judge in the case sealed the decision and the court’s findings were never released.

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PEOPLE has contacted the Coroners Court of New South Wales and New South Wales Police for comment.

Investigators found that Church was upset he could no longer control Smith, who he believed was pregnant with his child, according to the Morning Herald and ABC, which added that he also believed Smith could ruin his relationship with his girlfriend if his “ongoing sexual relationship with Leisl” was revealed.

Per the Morning Herald and 9 News, Smith had previously complained about Church being physically abusive and that he had threatened to end her life. The man also had a history of being abusive to partners, the Morning Herald reported.

According to the outlets, Grahame told the inquest that Church picked Smith from the Tuggerah railway station before killing her. Smith was last seen entering a car with Church on Aug. 19, 2012. “It is clear he had an opportunity to harm Leisl, given they were alone and traveling in a motor vehicle,” Magistrate Grahame said, per ABC.

Per ABC, Grahame also mentioned that Smith’s father believes she is not dead. “His belief that she may still be alive is a matter I have considered carefully,” the coroner said. “Nevertheless, I am convinced Leisl is deceased.”

She added, “I regret that my findings are unlikely to be accepted by all.”

“Leisl is obviously deeply loved and missed by all,” Grahame told family members in court, per the Morning Herald and 9 News. “She was a fiercely free-spirited daughter and sister… someone who danced to the beat of her own drum, who was adventurous and always looking for the joy in life.”

Grahame also recommended that the court review the law regarding whether verdicts can be revealed even after the death of a suspect. “[The] pain caused to relatives has caused me to consider whether there should be reform to the criminal justice system in this area,” she said, per ABC.

According to the outlet, Smith’s mother, Sandi Harvey, who has campaigned for the law change, said, “Everybody had worked so hard and we were waiting and waiting to hear guilty or innocent and we got nothing.”

“It was just another slap in the face … no answer,” Harvey continued. “The fact that she’s made some recommendations that the law reform should be [considered] in regard to allowing in these circumstances a verdict to be heard … the things that I wanted to hear, I got to hear.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.