Inside the mind of Melissa Caddick before she vanished without a trace

The federal police raid on Mellissa Caddick’s home may have humiliated her so much that she chose to take her own life, a forensic psychiatrist has told an investigation into the presumed death of the missing fraudster.

dr. Kerri Eagle diagnosed Ms. Caddick with “narcissistic personality disorder,” but noted the limitations of never interviewing her and basing her assessment purely on statements and other data.

Ms. Caddick portrayed herself as a very successful and prosperous person and nurtured her self-esteem through the admiration of others, Dr. Eagle to the investigation.

If she faced the exposure as fraud and didn’t look as brilliant as she projected, if she felt she couldn’t recover from such humiliation, she might suddenly feel there was no other outlet than suicide, said Dr. Eagle.

But based on her assessments, Dr. Eagle did not believe that Ms. Caddick exhibited psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies.

Her assessment came when Mrs. Caddick’s husband denied playing any role in his wife’s disappearance and rejected suggestions that he was deliberately delaying her report to evade the attention of the police.

Anthony Koletti told the inquest that he certainly did not assist in her disappearance.

“Did you postpone reporting her missing person to give her time to go somewhere… or end her own life?” the counsel assisting Jason Downing SC asked Thursday.

“I didn’t,” said Mr. Koletti.

Earlier, the hairdresser and part-time DJ was questioned again about the day he says Mrs Caddick disappeared from their home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

That evening — on Nov. 12, 2022 — he drove to a friend’s house in Rose Bay to get an “e-cigarette,” he told the NSW Coroners Court.

“Was it actually to smoke a joint?” asked Mr. Downing.

“I don’t know… it’s possible,” said Mr. Koletti.

“You’ve got to remember it,” said Mr. Downing.

“Let’s say yes, what’s your point?” said Mr. Koletti.

“One night you told us you’d been looking all day … you actually went out to smoke a joint with a friend,” Mr. Downing said.

Koletti said he was concerned about his wife and accepted that he smoked weed to calm himself.

The text messages exchanged with that friend were later deleted by Koletti before handing over his phone to the police to help with their investigation, Mr Downing said.

Koletti said this must have “something to do with marijuana.”

He formally reported his wife missing the next day on November 13, and was asked if he had been out the night before.

“Not that I know of,” he said.

The day she went missing is “a bit hazy,” Koletti said Thursday before adding that his memory is “quite hazy.”

“I don’t remember going anywhere,” he said.

In several police reports and for weeks after Mr. Koletti insisted, Mrs. Caddick left the house in black sportswear and silver Asics.

But after she didn’t return, he says he assumed she would meet with a lawyer or stay in a hotel before appearing in court the next day.

Mr Downing asked why he insists she leave in athletic attire if he later thought she would meet with a lawyer.

Koletti said it was based on assumptions but denied seeing them worn.

The victims of Mrs. Caddick’s Ponzi scheme, mostly family and friends, lost $20-$30 million which she used to fund her lavish lifestyle

In February 2021, her decomposing foot, encased in a shoe, washed ashore on Bournda Beach on the south coast of NSW.

Ms Caddick’s brother, Adam Grimley, has said in an affidavit that the family had been “floored” that counsel appeared to be “pursuing” his brother-in-law.

He noted that counsel appeared to be presenting “unverified gossip as fact” and said Mr Koletti had suffered greatly from the loss of his wife, the shock of her misconduct and the baseless accusations that followed.

Overnight, he had received abusive messages, including a lecture, “Dodgy asshole, I hope you get locked up,” his lawyer Judy Swan said.

The investigation continues on Friday.