The Mysterious Disappearance of Veronica Philomena Lockyer and Baby Adell Sherylee Partridge: The Unsolved Mystery of Their 1998 Vanishing

Veronica Philomena Lockyer and her 6-month-old daughter, Adell Sherylee Partridge, were last seen in Midland, Perth, on November 1998.

Their disappearance has remained an unsolved mystery for more than twenty years and the homicide squad is actively investigating their case.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Veronica and Adell were last seen taking a taxi from the Centre Point Shopping Centre in Midland around November or December 1998.

Veronica, an Indigenous mother of six, didn’t have a permanent address and frequently moved from place to place.

She had connections in Perth and extended family in northern Pilbara and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia.

She was known for frequently visiting women’s hostels in Perth and also had connections with communities in Northern WA.

Her last confirmed location was in the Merredin/Burracoppin area of Western Australia.

Described as 162 cm tall with a medium build, Veronica has brown eyes, brown hair, and a tanned complexion. 

Veronica also had a noticeable physical impairment in her left eye.

As a result, she covered her left eye with her hair and walked with a limp.

Few details are known about her other children, but it is known that she gave birth to Baby Adell in April 1998.

This was just six months before they disappeared.

Her daughter Adell also her brown eyes and hair like her Mother. 

At the time of their disappearance, Veronica was caring only for Adell, while her other children were living with various relatives  across Australia.

Detective Senior Sergeant Adrian Richards pointed out that due to Veronica's nomadic lifestyle, no one suspected she was missing.

Her family initially thought she was staying with other relatives.

They also said it was not unusual for her to be out of contact for a long period of time.

As a result, no one reported her missing in 1998, and no initial search for clues was conducted.

This may have allowed potential evidence or suspects to slip away over time.

It wasn’t until 20 years later that a formal missing person report was filed.

In July 2018, one of Veronica's other children, known only as Donna, reported both Veronica and her daughter Adell missing. 

Donna Lockyer’s Revelations and Current Efforts

Donna mentioned that the family assumed Veronica and Adell were living in Perth, and had later moved to Port Hedland.

Donna Lockyer, who was about two years old when her mother disappeared.

Donna, now a mother of three, grew up in a small wheatbelt town of Merredin under a violent upbringing. 

She said that her father had prevented her from knowing about her mother and her family, stripping her of her cultural heritage. 

Donna only learned of her siblings and her mother’s true fate as a young adult, leading her to contact the police.

She spoke about how their absence affected her deeply.

She said her children grew up knowing only a photograph of their grandmother.

Sadly, they never got the chance to meet their grandmother and it breaks her heart.

Potential Suspect

At the time of her disappearance, she was in an on-and-off relationship with Adell’s father, Craig Partridge. 

Unconfirmed reports also suggest that he was the last person to see them.

He said that after an argument with Veronica, she and Adell might have taken a taxi from the Centre Point Shopping Centre in Midland.

He was initially considered a person of interest because of this and the violent nature of their relationship.

However, he was never officially arrested, and no charges were filed in connection with Veronica and Adell's disappearance.

Partridge claimed he did not know where they were when questioned by detectives. 

He was later hospitalized for psychiatric treatment where he consistently denied any involvement in their disappearance.

Ongoing Efforts

After nearly 25 years, Veronica's children are still committed to finding her.

Adrian Clinch, One of Veronica’s children suspects foul play in his mother’s disappearance.

He has also expressed frustration over the inquest’s lack of answers. 

The family is considering hiring a private investigator and continues to raise awareness through social media platforms.

Despite extensive investigations across Western Australia and beyond, there have been no documented sightings or records of Veronica or her daughter since late 1998.

Baby Adell would have turned 26 this year, and Veronica would have been enjoying her 50s as a grandmother.

The family of Veronica and Adell is holding onto hope that they are still alive. 

On the other hand, a recent inquest confirmed that both are presumed deceased, but the circumstances surrounding their disappearance remains unresolved. 

The police is also asking anyone with information to come forward to help in resolving this long-standing unsolved mystery. 

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