A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (2024)

How a Brisbane mother-of-10 died "may never be known", with the Deputy State Coroner unable to make definitive findings into her death.

Warning: This story contains an image of an Indigenous person who has died and details some may find distressing.

Constance Watcho, whose remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot, was last seen walking down a Kangaroo Point street with her partner Przemyslaw "Sam" Sobczak in November 2017.

Several months after family members reported her missing in early 2018, the 36-year-old's remains were discovered only hundreds of metres away from where she had vanished.

The mother's dismembered bones were found in and around a sports bag amongst scrub at the base of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (1)

At the time police treated her death as suspicious and launched a public appeal alongside two of her siblings.

They later announced a reward for information, but to this day no charges have been laid.

An inquest looking into the circ*mstances surrounding her suspected murder was held over a number of days between 2022 and 2023 in Brisbane.

The coronial inquiry heard from more than a dozen witnesses made up of police, family members, friends and acquaintances of Ms Watcho.

A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (2)

Her former partner Mr Sobczak and Dallas Bandman, a man the couple had been staying with at a unit in Kangaroo Point, also gave evidence.

Mr Bandman testified he had witnessed Mr Sobczak and Ms Watcho arguing on the night she disappeared, and revealed he had lent them the bag that the remains were found in.

Parts of Mr Sobczak's evidence were heard in a closed court after he repeatedly told Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher he could not remember what happened on that night.

Both men strenuously denied having anything to do with her death.

'What caused Constance's death may never be known'

On Thursday, Deputy State Coroner Gallagher told the court despite both men being considered "persons of interest" by investigators, there was a "lack of compelling evidence" available to her to prove either were responsible.

"I am unable to identify any person as a person who was involved," she said.

A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (3)

Deputy State Coroner Gallagher told the court that although she was satisfied Ms Watcho's death was suspicious and "may have been caused by a person or persons", she could not rule out that she died of "other unknown reasons".

"Based on the state of decomposition of Constance's remains… what caused Constance's death may never be known," she said.

"Caution must be exercised in drawing inferences from the circ*mstances and largely unreliable evidence."

Deputy State Coroner Gallagher ruled it was "more likely than not" Ms Watcho died not long after she went missing in 2017, but where and how she died remain unknown.

She recommended police continue investigating the case.

Some family members of Ms Watcho cried as the findings were handed down and yelled "no justice", while another verbally abused Deputy State Coroner Gallagher.

A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (4)

'Somebody out there knows what happened'

Outside court Mervyn Riley, who spoke on behalf of the family, said "it was heartbreaking for everyone today" and "total devastation".

"[The coroner] could not give us a definitive answer for these children who are going to suffer for the rest of their lives of not knowing," he said.

"These children need closure — we didn't get that today."

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Mr Riley said "somebody out there knows what happened" and urged them to come forward.

"It's the right thing to do," he said.

Ms Watcho's sister-in-law Tarita Fisher said Ms Watcho "didn't do this on her own".

"Someone has murdered our sister, our mother, she's a grandmother," she said.

"We need answers."

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Sisters Inside chief executive Debbie Kilroy — who supported the family during the inquest — joined Mr Riley and Ms Fisher to call on the Commissioner of Police to meet with the family about Ms Watcho's case.

"Come to the table and let's talk about ending violence against women and getting justice for Aboriginal women in this country," Ms Kilroy said.

A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (5)

"This has gone on for too long," Mr Riley said.

"This can't continue, Aboriginal women disappearing and being murdered and not having justice in this country," Ms Fisher said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service (QPS) said detectives would review the findings and the investigation remained open.

"Investigators will monitor any new information and appeal to anyone with information to come forward," the statement said.

"A senior officer from the QPS will be in contact to address any concerns with the family."

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A mother-of-10's remains were found dumped at a popular walking spot but how she died 'may never be known' (2024)
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