Julie Anne Beyer’s disappearance received national prominence last year when her son, Matthew, was a contestant on Masterchef.

He was excluded from the show for having a smart phone in the residence. He said it was his mother’s birthday at the time he was in seclusion.

The investigating police officer, Det-Sen-Constable Margaret Saunders, told yesterday’s inquest Ms Beyer’s disappearance had received national news coverage.

Her story featured in a women’s magazine in July last year and was discussed on many websites, but no information about her had been received.

Sen-Constable Saunders said Ms Beyer’s case had also received media attention in Missing Persons Week in 2009 and last year.

Deputy state coroner Paul MacMahon said there was no evidence Ms Beyer had been alive since September 10, 2004 — the last time she used her bank account containing thousands of dollars.

“I am satisfied Julie is in fact deceased,” Mr MacMahon said.

He was unable to determine the cause and manner of death, but said it was most likely she died in the Northern Territory.

The vehicle she was travelling in has never been found and its registration expired in 2004.

Ms Beyer spent 11 days in Nolan House at Albury Base Hospital for mental health issues before being released on July 6, 2004.

She packed her vehicle, told her son, Anthony, to vacate her flat and left her Webb Street, Lavington, residence, intending to go to Mackay in Queensland.

Mr MacMahon said there were bank transactions at Dubbo and Tennant Creek early in September.

It is likely she was driving to Katherine where Anthony was studying at the Charles Darwin University campus.

He had received several phone messages from his mother there.

Mr MacMahon said there was no evidence about her whereabouts from July to September, 2004, but it was a reasonable to believe she was travelling to see her son.

There had been no contact with her family since 2004.

And she has not come to police notice in any state nor had she registered on any electoral role.