Fresh push to find killer of 23-year-old who vanished from a train station 30 years ago

Investigators believe a hot-headed prostitute may be responsible for the murder of a young woman who vanished at a train station 30 years ago.

Sarah MacDiarmid was last seen walking through the car park of Kananook train station near her home in Frankston, south-east Melbourne, on July 11, 1990. 

The Scottish-Australian woman was reported missing by her parents and her blood was found at the station’s car park the next day. 

Ms MacDiarmid’s body has never been found, but police found drag marks leading into nearby bushes.

A 1996 inquest ruled the 23-year-old was murdered at the hands of a mystery person or people at about 10.20pm that night.

Detectives have named violent prostitute Jodie Jones (pictured) as the prime suspect

Detectives have named violent prostitute Jodie Jones as the prime suspect and believe Ms MacDiarmid was robbed and attacked by the sex worker and three others.

Jones and two of her alleged accomplices are dead, while police have met with the final woman in the group, who remains alive.  

They believe she may have been involved with disposing of Ms MacDiarmid’s body, but not responsible for her murder.

Serial killer Paul Denyer and cop killer Bandali Debs were at one stage considered suspects, but no-one were never charged. 

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told The Herald Sun police are urging anyone with information on Ms MacDiarmid’s death to come forward.

‘There will absolutely still be people who know what happened to Sarah and who is responsible. It’s been 30 years but it is not too late to do the right thing,’ he said.

The 23-year-old’s car was found in the Kananook train station car park (pictured at the time of her disappearance) after her parents reported her missing

Blood belonging to Ms MacDiarmid (pictured) blood was found near the Kananook train station car park with drag marks leading into the bushes

‘There are very few murders where those involved have never spoken to anyone about it — someone will know about Sarah’s disappearance and we are again appealing to those people to come forward and speak to police.’

A $1million reward is on offer for those who can assist the investigation. 

Inspector Stamper said Ms MacDiarmid’s family have refused to give up hope of finding out what happened to her.

‘It’s hard to extinguish that last bit of hope and families are left hanging off every phone call, every knock on the door in case it’s the one that will give them those answers,’ he said.

Peter and Sheila MacDiarmid are hoping the 30th anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance can provide fresh leads and give some sense of closure following an ordeal which ‘turned their lives upside down’.

Mr MacDiarmid said while multiple theories about his daughter’s fate had been offered in the three decades since 1990, they remained hopeful the case would be solved.

‘I don’t think police are much the wiser about the case at the moment – but the more publicity and the more help we can get the better,’ he said.

He added the pain of her disappearance had never gone away and continued to drive the family to find answers.

‘Some days you’re on an even keel, but on others you’ll think about it or be hearing something on TV about a family who have lost a loved one and it really hits you that your whole life has been turned upside down,’ he said. 

‘When new information comes through, it stirs up the emotions. Who knows what will turn up – but you have to look at it.’

Ms MacDiarmid’s parents Sheila and Peter have refused to give up hope of solving the case