A coroner has determined that the husband of missing con artist Melissa Caddick likely knew of her whereabouts in the days following her disappearance, but refused to tell police.
Deputy NSW state coroner Elizabeth Ryan on Thursday handed over her latest findings on Caddick’s sudden disappearance, who defrauded investors – many of whom were close relatives and close friends – out of $23 million.
She was last seen near her home in Dover Heights in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on November 11, 2020, when her property was raided by Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) investigators.
Her husband, Anthony Koletti, reported her missing on November 13, some 30 hours after she was believed to have been last seen.
Magistrate Ryan took aim at Mr Koletti when he handed over her findings on Thursday, saying he had not given a “full and candid account” of what happened with the inquest.
“I have formed the opinion that it is likely that on November 13, 2020, Mr. Koletti had some knowledge of Ms. Caddick’s movements over the past two days, but chose not to disclose it,” she said.
“I accept that Mr. Koletti’s inherent unreliability placed a significant burden on the investigating police.”
Mr Koletti was visibly furious after the findings of the inquest were handed over – he pushed 60 Minutes reporter Tom Steinfort – outside the courthouse in Lidcombe, western Sydney, as he stormed to his car.
NSW Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan concluded Melissa Caddick had died, but it is unclear how and when she lost her life
A coroner has determined that Anthony Koletti, the husband of missing conwoman Melissa Caddick, knew of some of her whereabouts in the days after she disappeared, but refused to tell police
In her findings, Magistrate Ryan said Mr Koletti was described during the inquiry as the ‘most impressive and unreliable witness’, whose lack of candor was one of the reasons why it was not possible to conclude why, how or when Caddick died.
She added that Mr Koletti has given different accounts of what happened in the days following Caddick’s disappearance – and that his lack of intellect was no reason why he couldn’t explain.
“Mr. Koletti’s evidence during the inquest was full of contradictions,” the magistrate said.
“It is fair to say that when he was not creating further inconsistencies, he tried to explain them with opaque and sometimes incomprehensible explanations.”
The magistrate said Mr. Koletti, a barber, has given several different accounts of what happened between Nov. 11 and Nov. 13.
“Mr. Koletti has failed to explain in an understandable manner the many inconsistencies within and between these records,” Magistrate Ryan said.
Simply put, the differences are too numerous and persistent to be attributed to stress and (his) lack of intellectual sophistication.
“The inescapable conclusion is that at times during the investigation and inquest Mr. Koletti chose to make statements that are simply not true.”
Following the findings, Mr. Koletti was seen shoving reporters while trying to get into a car, with members of his wife’s family already inside.
His brother-in-law, Adam Grimley, was behind the wheel and honked loudly as Mr. Koletti burst in.
Melissa Caddick’s husband Anthony Koletti clashes with reporters after final findings on her whereabouts were passed Thursday
Magistrate Ryan said she accepted Ms Caddick had died when she handed over the findings on Thursday morning.
The findings touched on several aspects of Caddick’s disappearance, including theories about how she died, the police investigation and her own husband’s response.
Caddick’s foot was washed up on Bournda Beach, 400 km south of Sydney, in February 2021 in an ASICs shoe.
Magistrate Ryan shut down the long-running theory that Caddick could still live without her foot, and may have escaped abroad after somehow removing her leg.
She said it was highly unlikely that Caddick’s foot had been deliberately removed, either by herself or someone else.
However, the cause of her death is still unclear. The coroner found there was not enough evidence to prove that Caddick took her own life by jumping off the cliffs along the road from her home.
Magistrate Ryan said the inquest heard from forensic psychiatrist Dr Kerri Eagle who determined Ms Caddick may have narcissistic personality disorder.
She noted that patients with this condition are at risk of committing suicide if they experienced something that deeply shamed them. But that wasn’t enough to prove suicide – a leading police theory.
Police suspected Mrs Caddick committed suicide by jumping off the cliff at Rodney Reserve, about 500 meters from her home, on the morning of 12 November 2020.
The coroner was also unable to determine with certainty whether she died with the help of another person or from a misadventure.
“I regret that positive findings cannot be made as to the cause and manner of death of Ms. Caddick,” Magistrate Ryan said.
“Her disappearance from her family in traumatic circumstances must be a source of deep and lasting grief to them.”
Ms Caddick’s husband Anthony Koletti (pictured together) only reported his wife missing when he contacted Rose Bay Police Station at 11:45am on 13 November – a full 30 hours after she was last seen
A foot – later identified as belonging to Ms Caddick – washed up on Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast in February 2021 – three months after she disappeared