Maria Korp - Missing Person

Missing Person

The brother of Korp's husband, Gust Korp had earlier reported his concerns about Maria's safety to police on 9 February 2005. Joe stated he last saw his wife at their suburban Mickleham home at approximately 6.30am on that day. Korp was found unconscious, in the boot of her car near the Shrine Of Remembrance in Dallas Brooks Drive, Melbourne on 13 February 2005. She was taken to nearby Alfred Hospital, and was found to have suffered oxygen starvation to the brain, head injuries and severe dehydration. She went into a medically induced coma, and was placed on life support.

On 16 February 2005 police charged Joe Korp, 47, and his mistress Tania Herman, 38, with the attempted murder of Maria Korp, conspiracy to murder, and intentionally causing serious injury. Both appeared the following day in Melbourne Magistrates Court and were remanded in custody. On 28 April 2005, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appointed Victoria's Public Advocate, Julian Gardner as Mrs Korp's legal guardian.

Herman pleaded guilty on 8 June 2005 to the attempted murder of Maria Korp, this charge was never upgraded to murder when Maria subsequently died, and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine years. Korp pleaded not guilty on all charges and was later released on bail on 9 June, and committed to stand trial.

On 26 July 2005, Gardner announced that medical treatment for Maria Korp in the form of artificial nutrition and hydration would cease, that palliative care treatment would be provided and that she was expected to die within one to two weeks. Her condition had been declining, and medical staff could no longer stabilise her condition. "The treating team at the Alfred Hospital has advised me that her condition is now terminal", Gardner said.

A further charge of murder had been expected to be laid against her husband, who applied for bail modification so that he could visit his dying wife in hospital. The Public Advocate, who had authority to determine access to Maria Korp approved a visit supervised by his staff and police. Korp died at 2am on 5 August 2005.

Maria Korp's funeral mass was held on Friday, 12 August 2005 almost six months to the day after she was found. Forbidden by family to attend the service, Korp invited the media to a private funeral ceremony at his home where he sang Unchained Melody and The Lady in Red. That night Korp contacted his first wife then a newspaper journalist, telling both that he intended to hang himself in his garage. Both contacted police who rushed to the house to find Korp standing on a ladder with a noose around his neck while talking on a mobile phone. According to the police report, he was looking at them through the garage window when the ladder tipped over. Police believe he may have been trying to regain his footing when the ladder fell. Surrounding his body were photographs of Maria and notes professing his innocence. The media reported that Korp was on the phone to his solicitor at the time he died and that the coroner's toxocology report indicated an alcohol reading of 0.15.