Case 122
Leeann Lapham
In Australia, one woman is killed by her current or former domestic partner every week. So when 29-year-old Leeann Lapham went missing from her short term accommodation in Innisfail in 2010, suspicion was immediately cast on her boyfriend, Graeme Evans. Although the two were known to have a volatile and often violent relationship, Graeme maintained that Leeann had left on her own accord.
This wasn’t too far fetched given that Leeann had a troubled past, but Leeann’s mother Kerry wasn’t convinced. Speaking of Graeme, she said, “I just had that feeling, that gut feeling. I thought ‘he knows something, I know he knows something. But nobody could prove anything.”
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research – Anonymous Host and Elsha McGill with assistance from the Queensland Police Homicide Investigation Unit
Writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
SPECIAL THANKS:
Casefile would like to thank The Queensland Police Homicide Investigation Unit, The White Ribbon Foundation, and the family of Leeann Lapham for their assistance and support in creating this episode and highlighting the issues raised. The names of several witnesses have been changed.
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS
You can download the document here.
OFFICIAL COURT DOCUMENTS & POLICE STATEMENTS:
Supplied by the Queensland Homicide Uni
NEWS ARTICLES:
Human remains found in search for body – The Cairns Post
Leeann Lapham’s killer jailed for manslaughter after punching her to death and hiding her body – ABC News
Man jailed for beating partner to death during argument over bacon – News.com.au
Man accused of murder choked and threatened former partners, court told – The Brisbane Times
No body, no parole’ laws passed, Queensland MP brought to tears – ABC News
How police cracked the cold case of Leeann Lapham’s disappearance – The Townsville Bulletin
Driver who worked alongside Innisfail police to face court on charges in relation to $500,000 drug bust – The Cairns Post
Fresh appeal launched for missing north Queensland mum Leeann Lapham – The Courier Mail
Australian police deal with domestic violence every two minutes – ABC News
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES:
What is a domestic violence order? – Queensland Courts
Why don’t victims just leave? – SAFER
Family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia, 2018 – Australian Institute of Health & Welfare
A red flag for homicide: Should non-fatal strangulation be made a stand-alone criminal offence – Heather Douglas
Non-fatal strangulation is an important risk factor for homicide of women – Nancy Glass