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

A 23-year-old woman who vanished 13 years ago has been confirmed dead, with her partner identified as the perpetrator, a coroner has ruled.

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

Despite extensive searches, Smith’s body has never been located. Grahame said there is a strong possibility her remains are “in the Goulburn River National Park or its vicinity,” per ABC.

Church had been charged with her murder but died by suicide in July 2022, a day before the verdict was scheduled. Consequently, the judge sealed the case, and the court’s findings were not made public.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Coroners Court of New South Wales and New South Wales Police for comment.

Investigators revealed that Church was reportedly upset that he could no longer control Smith, whom he believed was pregnant with his child, according to the Morning Herald and ABC. He also feared that if their “ongoing sexual relationship” became known, it could harm his relationship with his girlfriend.

Smith had previously reported that Church had been physically abusive and had threatened her life. He also had a documented history of abusing partners, the Morning Herald reported.

Strike force detectives are now treating the suspicious disappearance of a Central Coast woman as a homicide investigation.

According to reports, Grahame said at the inquest that Church picked Smith up from the Tuggerah railway station on Aug. 19, 2012. She was last seen entering a car with him. “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.

Grahame also noted that Smith’s father believes she may still be alive. “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, according to 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 consider reviewing laws about revealing verdicts when a suspect dies. “[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.

Smith’s mother, Sandi Harvey, who has campaigned for changes to the law, 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.”

She added, “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.”