Amber Haigh’s disappearance in 2002 remained a mystery until the trial of Robert and Anne Geeves, accused of killing her In Australia to take her baby.
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA- A couple accused of murdering intellectually disabled teenager Amber Haigh, 19, to steal her baby have been acquitted after a high-profile trial in New South Wales, Australia. The case captivated the Riverina region for over two decades, centered on the claim that Robert and Anne Geeves, now 64, killed Amber to gain custody of her child.
Amber vanished in June 2002, and despite extensive investigations and a $1 million reward, her body was never found. Prosecutors alleged the Geeveses manipulated Amber into having Robert’s child, then killed her when she refused to give up custody. They were the last people to see her alive, claiming they dropped her off at a train station 300km from their Kingsvale home, where the teen had been living.
Justice Julia Lonergan, who presided over the case, found the prosecution’s evidence insufficient, stating, “Cases are not decided on rumour, speculation or suspicion.” She also noted there was no evidence the couple still desired more children when Amber became pregnant.
A Troubled Past and Clouded Judgment
The court heard Amber had suffered abuse throughout her life and struggled to navigate her relationships. Witnesses testified to Amber’s mistreatment by Robert Geeves, including allegations of sexual assault. The couple’s son, Robbie, revealed that his mother referred to Amber as a “surrogate” and pressured him to accept her child as his “little brother.”
Despite the harrowing accounts, the judge criticized the investigation, saying it focused too heavily on disproving the Geeveses’ story rather than investigating Amber’s fate.
Unresolved Mystery
While the judge acknowledged that Amber had likely died, the prosecution failed to prove how or why. As the Geeveses were acquitted and released from custody after two years in prison, Amber’s family was left visibly shaken.
Justice Lonergan’s ruling emphasized Amber’s tragic life, marked by neglect and abuse, but with the case’s key facts unresolved, the mystery of Amber Haigh’s disappearance remains.
Join our Channel...