Source : Perth Now news
The family of a Melbourne father who was found dead in a shallow grave a year after he went missing are desperately searching for answers decades on.
Albert Pisani, then 27 years old, was last spotted in October 1986 around Moe, about 130km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD.
It’s understood he was due to use a bank in Moe before returning home to his partner and five children.
His family weren’t immediately worried when he didn’t show up as he regularly travelled,
but he was reported missing days later on October 15.
His remains were found in bushland in Driffield in June the following year about 20km from where he went missing in Moe.
Police believe he was met with foul play, and have set up a $1,000,000 reward for information to identify those involved in his death.
His sister, Karen Pisani, said: “40 years on, I still live in fear of the unknown crime.”
“We need anyone with any information to come forward so we can fully put him to rest,” Ms Pisani said.
His death had a huge impact on Ms Pisani, who said that she never got the chance to know him.
“Our mother, Mary, died in 2016 after suffering significantly from Albert’s murder,” Ms Pisani said.
“It was extremely difficult seeing the extent of my mother’s pain as Albert was dearly missed and loved by all.”
Detective Inspector David Dunstan from the Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad said “Albert’s killer remains out there”, urging anyone with information to come forward.
“Forty years is a long time not to have the answers the family of Albert seek,” Inspector Dunstan said.
“It’s a long time for justice not to be provided to Albert.
“Forty years is a long time where allegiances will change, friendships will change, and there are people out there who know what’s happened to Albert.
“We’re asking those people to come forward and provide us with the answers to give the family peace and justice for Albert.”
Inspector Dunstan said his family are left in an “ambiguous grief process” without any answers.
“They haven’t got the final answers which they seek to get their closure, so they can actually put this to rest and move forward,” he said.
Mr Pisani was in a workplace dispute at the State Electricity Commission Briquette Factory in Morwell before he went missing, according to police.
He would often hitchhike across Australia and had an interest in trucks, having made relationships with local and interstate drivers.
It is currently unclear who may have been involved in harming Mr Pisani, who had no criminal history and was not known to police before he disappeared.
There is a $1,000,000 reward for information related to Mr Pisani’s death, and Director of Public Prosecutions will consider granting indemnification from prosecution to people who provide information.
