Partner charged with murder in cold case of missing Innisfail woman


Police have charged a 42-year-old man over the disappearance of Leeann Lapham, who was last seen alive at an Innisfail hotel in late April 2010.

Innisfail detectives with the assistance of the Homicide Investigation Unit yesterday charged the Innisfail man with one count each of murder and interfering with a corpse.

The man is due to appear in the Innisfail Magistrates Court today at 1pm.

Police made a breakthrough in the case in November following new information that led to a site at Aeordrome Road near Innisfail.

They excavated sections of land at the address, with Detective Sergeant Matt Bauer of the Innisfail Criminal Investigation Branch saying at the time that police received new information in relation to Ms Lapham’s disappearance.

“We have confirmed previously that any new evidence or information provided to us that could further our investigation would be followed up and investigated accordingly,” Det Sgt Bauer says.

“For this reason, we have commenced the excavation at this location.”

Ms Lapham was aged 30 at the time of her disappearance.