{
  "id": 4596691,
  "title": "Family hopes for answers in new inquest into schoolgirl's disappearance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/family-hopes-for-answers-in-new-inquest-into-schoolgirls-disappearance",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T07:37:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-31/new-inquest-marilyn-wallman-schoolgirl-disappearance-mackay-1972/107095738"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A pre-inquest conference into the 1972 disappearance of 14-year-old Mackay schoolgirl Marilyn Joy Wallman has been held in the city of Mackay. The second coronial investigation into her disappearance will be held on October 7, 2026. Only traces of Marilyn have been found - a bicycle, a dropped school bag, a hat, and a partial human skull. At the pre-inquest hearing, it was revealed that her brothers were away from the family cane farm when Marilyn left for school. Her hat was found in the cane field, but Marilyn was never found despite a massive police search. The second inquest aims to establish the truth about her disappearance, the circumstances of her death, and if anyone else was involved. The siblings, Rex, David, and Lenore Wallman, expressed anxiety but hope for answers in their mother's 54-year-old case.",
  "summary": "Marilyn Wallman's family has been searching for answers for 54 years, since she disappeared on her way to school.",
  "key_points": [
    "Inquest into 1972 disappearance of Marilyn Wallman set for October 7, 2026",
    "Only traces found: bicycle, school bag, hat, partial human skull",
    "Brothers away at cane farm when Marilyn left for school"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}