Twenty one years ago Allison Sealey was killed in her Warrnambool home.
Today, The Standard journalists Monique Patterson and Jessica Howard launch their investigation Answers for Allison. Over the coming weeks they will delve into the cold case murder in the hope of finding closure for her family.
This week they speak to Allison's former neighbours to see what they remember from that fateful night, and the weeks that followed.
Video by Monique Patterson and Jessica Howard
Produced by Sophia Baker
Today, The Standard journalists Monique Patterson and Jessica Howard launch their investigation Answers for Allison. Over the coming weeks they will delve into the cold case murder in the hope of finding closure for her family.
This week they speak to Allison's former neighbours to see what they remember from that fateful night, and the weeks that followed.
Video by Monique Patterson and Jessica Howard
Produced by Sophia Baker
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00Two decades ago, Warrnambool was rocked by the murder of a young woman.
00:13Alison Seeley was found dead in her bed, bludgeoned to death by an unknown assailant in the seaside
00:19city located three hours west of Melbourne, Victoria.
00:23It was 2003, the US invaded Iraq.
00:29Apple released its third generation iPod and tennis great Roger Federer won his first
00:33Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.
00:41In Warrnambool, best known for migrating whales and the iconic Fletcher Jones silver ball,
00:46a number of residents lost their jobs at local factories that year.
00:49Our louts list was developed with violent and aggressive punters turned away from local
00:54hotels and the Botanic Gardens became home to 450 grey-headed flying foxes.
01:01But it was the death of the 35-year-old Warrnambool woman that really stunned the city as residents
01:07woke to the news on August 1, 2003.
01:10Alison went to a friend's house the night before, heading home about 8pm because she
01:15had a sore throat.
01:16When she didn't attend work the next morning and phone calls went unanswered, a concerned
01:22friend went to check on her at her Wandstead Street unit.
01:25With a key to the front door, she let herself in and was shocked to find her friend was
01:29dead inside.
01:31Alison Seeley, a sociable and popular woman who was close to her friends and family, had
01:35been smashed over the head with a blunt object.
01:39Police believe the killer locked the door on the way out.
01:42In the spare room of her home, police found a bed with a missing leg.
01:45The size and weight of the item could be consistent with the object used to inflict Alison's
01:50fatal injuries, but the suspected weapon has never been found.
01:54In the 21 years since her death, an inquest has been held, a $100,000 reward for information
01:59offered, and a suspect charged but later cleared of any wrongdoing.
02:03Still to this day, justice has not been achieved.
02:06Today, The Standard launches our podcast, Answers for Alison.
02:11We hope to talk to anyone who knew Alison or has information about the murder.
02:16To uncover answers and give the family some sort of closure after all these years.
02:22Over the years, The Standard has spoken to police and family members who continue to
02:29seek answers.
02:31In the days after her death in her Wandstead Street home, Alison's production coordinator
02:36at her workplace, Nygresha of Hamilton, spoke to The Standard.
02:41David Peterson said Alison was a jovial person who loved life.
02:45She had a lovely personality, just a terrific person, such a bright spark, he said.
02:50She fitted in really well with all the guys and was extremely well liked.
02:54You could quite easily have a joke with her and she'd give back what she got.
03:00At the time, two Wandstead Street residents, who didn't want to be named, said they were
03:05living in fear after the murder.
03:07If we knew he was caught and locked up, we wouldn't mind, one said.
03:10This has really put the wind up us, definitely.
03:13We are scared and shocked.
03:15Detective Ron Iddles of the Homicide Squad said her injuries were caused by a weapon
03:20which had been found inside the home.
03:22However, he declined to identify the weapon or give further details.
03:26He said police had examined the unit and had not found signs of forced entry.
03:30At the time, he said it was too early for police to determine whether Alison knew her
03:34attacker.
03:35A neighbour said Alison had lived in her Wandstead Street unit for three or four years.
03:40She was a really friendly person and I don't know why anyone would want to hurt her, the
03:44neighbour said.
03:45She stuck to herself and wouldn't hurt anybody.
03:47She was a pretty nice young lady.
03:49She got along with anybody.
03:51Alison's father, John, spoke to The Standard about his daughter in the wake of her murder.
03:55She was very independent and if you were her friend, she would do anything for you, he
04:00said.
04:01He said he last spoke to his daughter days before her death, after a photo of him was
04:05published in the Portland newspaper, where he lived.
04:08Showing me about that on Thursday to tell me how good it was, he said.
04:11At the time, he said he hoped police would find answers.
04:15We need to sort of close the issue and they have just been unbelievable, he said of police.
04:21In November 2004, The Standard reported a man charged with murdering Alison had been
04:26set free.
04:30Michael John Molseed had been charged with her murder after a 13-month investigation.
04:36However, the charge was withdrawn by police.
04:40Detective Sergeant Ron Iddles of the Melbourne Homicide Squad said after a review of the
04:44evidence, in addition to considering material which had come to light since the defendant
04:49was charged, a decision was reached to withdraw the charges.
04:53The case, however, remains open and will continue to be actively investigated, he said.
04:59In 2006, police from the Homicide Squad arrived in Warrnambool to once again doorknock residents
05:05in Wanstead Street, seeking answers.
05:07At the time, police said, we believe that a female person, if able to be identified,
05:12may in fact have a connection with the offender or may have information.
05:16Officers also asked residents if they heard wood chopping on the night of the murder.
05:21In 2010, an inquest into Alison's death was held.
05:25In that year, a $100,000 reward for information about her death was also announced.
05:31The inquest heard Alison loaned her nephew Michael Molseed money when he was down on
05:35his luck and did small favours for him.
05:38Warrnambool coroner Jonathan Lestad said there were reasons to suspect Mr Molseed was responsible
05:43for the injuries that caused Alison's death.
05:46However, he agreed there was still not enough evidence to establish a case.
05:50At the time, Mr Molseed was believed to be in Western Australia.
05:54In 2018 and 2023, police again urged anyone with information to come forward.
06:00The standard journalists Jessica Howard and Monique Patterson recently spoke to a number
06:05of residents in Wanstead Street.
06:07Now, you were living here in the time that the tragedy happened across the road, is that right?
06:16Ah, yeah, that was about 21 years ago.
06:19I've been shocked to think that we had a murder in the, you know, in the street.
06:25You could imagine it to be pretty, you know, I think horrified to think, I mean, anybody
06:30in this street could have been a victim, it could have been, could have been any of us.
06:35Are you shocked that no one's been charged with the murder?
06:38Yeah.
06:39Hmm.
06:40And living in this street, have you heard a lot of rumours about what might have happened?
06:44Ah, well, we think it was somebody that knew her.
06:48Yeah.
06:49Do you hope that someone is charged one day?
06:52Well, I mean, I hope to goodness, because they have been, you know, solving, you know,
06:57cases, cold cases, give her a family closure.
07:01Remember which house it was?
07:04It was sort of flat up the other end there.
07:07The other end, okay.
07:08Were you shocked?
07:09Oh, yeah, I couldn't believe it.
07:12She was alright, she was a good woman.
07:15She wasn't a bad woman.
07:18It was a bit scary.
07:20Our kids were only little at that stage.
07:22I think actually the detectives went around all the house.
07:26I think I remember them coming with a bit of a, you know, a doorknock.
07:28And over the years, have you heard rumours about what probably happened?
07:32Yeah, I think we heard rumours about some relationship affairs.
07:36I think just being a woman, I suppose, we would lock the door.
07:40A bit, you know, frightened of people, strangers.
07:43But I guess, I guess we thought someone was, they'd find who did it.
07:47And do you hope they still do?
07:49Yeah, yeah.
07:50Do you think that the family deserves some sort of answers?
07:53Oh, for sure.
07:54Yeah, yeah, for sure.
07:56Just not knowing.
07:57You know, I mean, just closure.
07:59Just closure.
08:00It's obvious it's Warrnambool.
08:02You sort of think you're immune to it and that sort of stuff.
08:11That was episode one of Answers for Alison.
08:15Make sure you're subscribed to the Warrnambool Standard
08:17to keep up to date with the investigation.
08:20The Standard is available online or through our newsletters and app.
08:25If you have information about the case,
08:27please email answersforalison at gmail.com
08:32That's Alison with two L's.
08:34A-L-L-I-S-O-N
08:39Thank you again for listening and we'll see you in the next episode.