More clues on Tamarama deaths
Police have again appealed for help from the gay community to assist in their investigations into the disappearance and death of two men from Marks Park, Tamarama, in 1989.
In December last year, police re-opened their investigations into the July 1989 disappearance of Ross Warren and the November 1989 death of John Russell. Police believe the two men were victims of gay hate crimes at the Marks Park site, although Warren’s body was never recovered.
Police are now looking for a man, who is believed to be associated with the gay community, to help them in their investigations. Police do not consider him to be a suspect.
The man police are seeking was known by the nickname Red, and used to frequent the Marks Park area in the late 80s. Around that time he was about 35 years of age, of slim build and white/European appearance. Red was possibly originally from country NSW.
A police source told Sydney Star Observer that three gangs were known to be active around the Marks Park area in the late 80s. Although no charges have been laid, the source said police would be looking to target people known to be involved in gay hate crimes.
South coast newsreader Ross Warren, who was 25 at the time of his disappearance, was last seen by friends on 22 July 1989. His car was later found at Marks Park and his car keys discovered on a rock shelf below the reserve.
Thirty-one-year-old John Russell’s body was found at the bottom of the cliff adjacent to the park on the morning of 24 November 1989. Police said suicide had been discounted as a motive in Russell’s death as he had shortly before come into a sizeable inheritance.
