The Disappearance of Renee Aitken: She mysteriously vanished from her bed

 

The tragic disappearance of five-year-old Renee Aitken has haunted Narooma, New South Wales, for over four decades. 

On February 16, 1984, Renee vanished from her bed, leaving a community in shock and a family desperate for answers. 

Despite exhaustive searches and numerous leads, this cold case remains unsolved. 

Renee lived in Narooma with her mother, Morna, and her older brother, Brad. 

They had just moved to the sleepy coastal town of Victoria, hoping for a peaceful life, at the time of Renee's disappearance.

The family was like any other: they spent their evenings together, shared meals, and enjoyed the beach. 

The day before Renee went missing, Morna and her children had spent the afternoon at the beach, enjoying fish and chips before heading home for bedtime.


Details of the Disappearance

At around 11:15 p.m. on February 16, 1984, Renee was last seen tucked in bed by her mother. 

But by 4:45 a.m. the next morning, Morna discovered her daughter was missing. 

Renee’s bed was empty, and the back door was wide open. 

Brad, Renee’s eight-year-old brother, woke up to find that his blanket had been neatly folded down, and Renee was gone.

The suddenness of Renee’s disappearance left little evidence behind. 

There were no signs of struggle, no footprints, and no leads to follow. 

The local community rallied to help search for Renee, with over 200 people—including police, SES volunteers, and concerned neighbors—scouring the area. 

The search lasted for 14 days, stretching from Mystery Bay to Bodalla.

Despite these extensive efforts, there was no trace of Renee. 

Crime scene investigators speculated that she had been abducted, but without any direct evidence, the case went cold. 

Her disappearance left Narooma shaken, transforming the once peaceful town into one filled with suspicion and fear. 

Renee Aitken and her brother


The Investigation and Potential Suspects

For years, the investigation into Renee’s disappearance seemed to hit dead ends. 

In 1987, police interviewed a key suspect, Brian “Spider” Fitzpatrick, a convicted sex offender who had been in Narooma around the time of Renee’s disappearance. 

Fitzpatrick had even stayed at Morna’s flat days before Renee went missing

Despite his questionable behavior and connections to the case, Fitzpatrick was never charged. 

He died in a car accident in 2003, just before he was scheduled to testify at an inquest into Renee’s disappearance.

In 2003, a coronial inquest concluded that police were convinced Fitzpatrick had abducted and likely murdered Renee. 

However, there was no definitive proof to confirm his involvement, and the case remained unsolved.

Fitzpatrick was a known predator, but his death prevented any further investigation into his role in the case. 

Over the years, several other persons of interest in Renee’s disappearance have emerged. 

More recently, detectives have explored a potential connection to Michael Guider, the convicted killer of Samantha Knight, a young girl who went missing in 1986, just two years after Renee. 

A former cellmate of Guider claimed that Guider had repeatedly drawn pictures of a girl named “Renee,” sparking new interest in the possibility that Guider had some involvement in Renee’s case. 

However, no solid evidence has emerged linking him to the crime.

The sketch made by Michael Guider

Age progression photo of Renee Aitken at 22


As part of an ongoing effort to solve the case, investigative genealogy has become a key tool in identifying possible leads. 

Renee’s family has participated in DNA collection programs and they remain hopeful that modern technology can provide answers. 

In recent years, law enforcement in New South Wales has launched initiatives to collect DNA from family members of missing persons, including Renee’s family. 

These DNA samples are being compared against unidentified remains in hopes of finding a match. 

“Cold cases solved by DNA are a beacon of hope for families like ours,” said Renee’s aunt, Robyn Aitken. “We are grateful for the advancements in DNA forensic analysis that could bring us closer to the truth.”

The Aitken family continues to fight for justice, urging anyone with information to come forward. 

Despite the heartbreak, they remain dedicated to finding Renee, no matter how long it takes.


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