A missing Sydney woman and her husband were the targets of death threats and hate mail in the months before she disappeared.
Friends of Madeline Bigatton, 48, said the mother-of-two was verbally attacked by people who had invested in her husband John’s failed Bitcoin business, Bitconnect.
Mrs Bigatton has not been seen since she dropped her daughter at a friend’s house on March 25 and drove to Kurnell, in Sydney’s south, where her car was later found abandoned.
A friend of the pharmaceutical worker told Daily Mail Australia that Mrs Bigatton was ‘overwhelmed’ by constant online threats and cruel taunts.
Madeline Bigatton (left) and her husband were the target of death threats in the months before her death. She told friends the ongoing personal attacks had left her ‘really cut up’ (right)
Mrs Bigatton (right) was last seen leaving the family home she shared with John (left) at Carss Park, in Sydney’s south, on March 25
But she hit back and defended her husband.
‘I’m absolutely shocked at peoples behaviour,’ Mrs Bigatton wrote to a friend.
‘I understand how people can emotional when they lose money, but to blame and accuse other people for their actions is unbelievable.
‘Even more shocking are the lies being said. It really cuts me up as John doesn’t have a single bad bone in his body and would only be involved in something if he truly believe that it would have positive impact on peoples lives.
‘I know that we will work through this and come out of it stronger. Yes, we must stay united.’
Mrs Bigatton’s husband John was the Australian director of Bitconnect which ended its operations suddenly in mid-January.
Just months before its closure, Mrs Bigatton and her family had travelled to the U.S to attend lavish conferences for the then-booming cryptocurrency business.
The downfall of Bitconnect not only led to Mr Bigatton being investigated by the FBI, but also to an influx of abuse and threats aimed at him by aggrieved investors.
One of Mrs Bigatton’s close friends said they believe the ‘shame’ of Bitconnect took its toll.
John Bigatton (left) takes a selfie with his family just days after his wife Madeline disappeared. Mr Bigatton is currently being investigated by the FBI for his involvement with cryptocurrency company ‘Bitconnect’
Mr Bigatton and relatives pose for a family photo on Easter, exactly a week after Madeline was last seen
‘That Bitconnect has ruined people’s lives, they were getting death threats, I think in the end she was really ashamed of being involved,’ the friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
‘We all just want answers… it has been three months now.
‘She hasn’t flown off with money or all these things that people come up with – she wouldn’t have left her kids.’
Mrs Bigatton was last seen leaving the driveway of her family home at Carss Park, in the city’s south, on the morning of March 25.
She dropped her daughter at a friend’s house and drove to Kurnell where she sent a number of messages to her husband, including one telling him to feed their pet dog.
‘The day before she disappeared she said to her sister: “I’m not in a good place, I’m in a dark place”,’ the relative said.
‘At about 3.30pm, she sends John some weird messages and says: “Don’t forget to feed the dog”.’
Mrs Bigatton has not been seen since.
The mother-of-two was last seen on CCTV getting into her black Kia Sorento in the driveway of her home (pictured)
Mrs Bigatton reportedly dropped her daughter at a friends’ house before driving up the cliffs (pictured) at Kurnell on May 25 this year
It has been close to three months since Mrs Bigatton was seen in the driveway of her family’s home (pictured) at Carss Park, in Sydney’s south
The friend insisted it is totally out of character for her to do anything to harm herself.
Police performed an air and ground search in the days following her disappearance, but no trace of the pharmaceutical professional was found.
Most close relatives and friends believe Mrs Bigatton leapt from the Cape Saunders, but at least one is believed to have told police they suspect potential foul play.
Exactly a week after she disappeared, family gathered at the Bigatton’s home for an Easter celebration.
During that gathering Mr Bigatton took a number of happy snaps and selfies, actions that left her relatives ‘uneasy’.
‘It was a bit odd. We had Easter at my aunty’s house and then we went around just to see the girls really,’ a relative, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail.
There is no suggestion Mr Bigatton had anything to do with his wife’s disappearance.
Mrs Bigatton left her wedding rings in the car, messaged her husband to ‘feed the dogs’ and has not been seen since
A large scale police search conducted just hours after she went missing did not find a trace of Mrs Bigatton, while her family also spent several weeks searching on their own
Anyone in the vicinity of Cape Solander at Kurnell who may have sighted her or her vehicle on Sunday March 25, should to contact St George Police or Crime Stoppers.
Mrs Bigatton is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm to 170cm tall, of a slim build, and with shoulder length brown hair.
She was last seen in the CCTV footage wearing a khaki green singlet, three-quarter pants, and was carrying a black and white bag.
Police are hoping to speak to two men of Indian appearance who reportedly picked up Mrs Bigatton’s car keys the day after she went missing.