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45-year-old cold case still hoping to be solved


Maria James was a mum of two boys and owned a second hand book store on High Street, Thornbury in Victoria. It was also her residence and, sadly, the place where she was murdered 45 years ago in 1980.


No one has ever been convicted of her murder and despite intense investigations by Victoria police, it has remained a cold case ever since.




On the morning of 17 June,1980 Maria was at home, confirmed by a number of witnesses. Just before midday, she called her ex-husband John and left a message for him to call her back. In her message, she mentioned that someone was in the shop.



According to John, when he called her back Maria answered the phone but asked him to hold on. He could hear that she had someone with her and was in conversation with them. Although he couldn't hear what was being said, John could tell by the tone that something was wrong. When Maria failed to come back on the line, he raced around to the shop to see if she was okay.


Maria James. Courtesy, Victoria Police
Maria James. Courtesy, Victoria Police

He found the front and back doors locked but the 'Open' sign still on display. After forcing his way into the premises, he found Maria in her bedroom with a number of stab wounds. Her hands had been bound.


Despite the front door being locked when he arrived, John found it now unlocked, suggesting the person was inside the address when he arrived. Witnesses said they saw a man running away shortly after.


Despite two inquests in 1982 and 2021, they both returned an open finding.


Two persons of interest were named in the investigations. They were Father Anthony Bongiorno and convicted murderer, Peter Keogh.


Firstly, Fr Bongiorno, who had allegedly abused one of Maria's boys, was to be confronted by Maria on the day she died. In the latest inquest it was discovered that he had been in proximity to Maria's house before and after the murder and his alibi had been discredited.


Mr Keogh had once told Melbourne woman, his ex-partner, Vicki Cleary, who he stabbed to death in 1987, that "I'll do to you what I did to the woman in the bookshop".


Both men are now deceased.


Mistakes had been made in the murder investigation in 1980 with Maria's bloodied clothes and pillow slips going missing from police storage.


However, DNA testing has been done on hairs found on Maria's bed quilt and further testing will be able to be done as DNA technology evolves, on the twine that bound her hands.


Maria's headstone at Templestowe Cemetery. Picture Findagrave.



Maria is buried at Templestowe Cemetery and Memorial Gardens.


Anyone with information should contact their local police station or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.


References




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