Police believe a grandmother was buried in a shallow grave in a Jingellic pine plantation after being killed by her violent husband.
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A coroner has found Ruth Ridley was likely killed by her estranged partner Gary at Neils Reserve at Walwa on October 26 or 27, 2019.
Mr Ridley took steps to deflect a police investigation between October 26 and 28 and lied to family members about her whereabouts, before taking his life.
The Tumbarumba man's body was found in her four-wheel-drive near Pikes Dam at Shelley on October 29.
He died of carbon monoxide poisoning, and the pair's phones were found in the car, wrapped in foil.
Mr Ridley had told the late woman in the weeks before her death he was keen to reconcile.
Coroner John Cain found the 58-year-old had been the victim of violence, including an incident after she applied for a domestic violence order in which he said he would "pull all of her intestines out" and kill her mother.
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Judge Cain noted there were 11 serious risk factors present in their relationship which increased her chances of being killed.
Mr Ridley's behaviour had escalated before the incident, friends and family noted he controlled her contact with others and kept her locked in a room, had strangled her, had access to weapons, and made multiple threats to kill her.
He engaged in stalking, had sexually assaulted her, was an alcoholic and showed jealous behaviours.
The coroner was unable to determine her cause of death, or the location of her body, other than to say it was somewhere near Neils Reserve.
Extensive searches have been conducted of the area but found no sign of her.
"I convey my sincerest sympathy to Mrs Ridley's family," he said.
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- beyondblue 1300 22 4636
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