The man who was sent the body of a dead baby in the post can be revealed as a former AFL player, and his family now want to help solve the case. Listen to the podcast.
A clerk makes a grim discovery in a Darwin post office, uncovering a mystery that spans Australia. The investigation still sticks with Denver Merchant.
Amelia Anderson, whose father Jimmy Anderson was named in the Australian Football League’s Northern Territory (AFLNT) Team of the Century, has come forward offering to supply DNA samples to put to end a mystery which has baffled authorities and intrigued the nation for almost 60 years.
The grisly parcel addressed to a J Anderson was sent from Melbourne’s Russell St post office on May 3, 1965 and sat in Darwin’s post office for eight days, with staff only calling police when it began to smell and leak.
Inside was the decomposing naked body of a newborn boy with a stocking wrapped tightly around his neck.
Ms Anderson, 53, contacted news Corp after reading about the case which was featured in episode two of the latest True Crime Australia podcast The Missing.
“We knew it was our dad,” Ms Anderson said.
Darwin AFL player Jimmy Anderson with Amelia Anderson and another baby in happier times.
Former Detective Denver Marchant – the officer sent to the post office to investigate – revealed in the podcast that he believed the J Anderson was a well known sportsman in the Northern Territory.
LISTEN TO THE MISSING PODCAST BELOW:
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During his sporting career, Jimmy Anderson played for the Darwin Buffaloes and also played two seasons for WAFL Club West Perth.
Denver Marchant in Russell Street, Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough
Ms Anderson is the youngest of Jimmy and her mother’s six children, but she said her father was known as a “ladies man”.
“My mother did put up a lot from Dad,” Ms Anderson said.
“She forgave him because she ended up having more children. Even throughout the marriage we started picking up on dad’s infidelity. We know we have brothers and sisters out there that we haven’t met yet.
Former Darwin Australian football champion and sports personality, Jimmy Anderson.
Darwin AFL player Jimmy Anderson later in life.
“This sounds like our father. This was something he was doing behind our mother’s back”.
Ms Anderson said she was initially shocked to learn the man sent the dead baby could be her father, but now just wants closure.
“Dad was always unfaithful to our mother, unfortunately, this is something that not a surprise. But the way the baby was sent to Darwin, obviously, that’s a big surprise and shocking.”
“I’m 53 years old and to hear a cold case that … and if that’s got a connection to do with our father, well I want closure for that Detective who’s been on the case for so long.
The baby after it was unwrapped from packaging in a post office in Darwin. Picture: Supplied
“And also for that little baby, that little baby needs closure,” Ms Anderson said.
“Our main goal is, we have to put this little baby to rest with a loving environment, and people around him even though we never knew this little baby.
“I think it’s just the right thing as humans to do”.
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LISTEN TO EX-COP’S THEORY ON BABY IN THE POST
It is a gruesome mystery spanning almost six decades. Just who posted the body of a newborn baby in the mail? Former cop turned investigative journalist Meni Caroutas reveals his theory on the ‘baby in the mailbag’ mystery for The Missing Australia podcast series.
Asked if she thought the baby could be her “big brother”, Ms Anderson said: “That’s my brother”.
“The name [in the article] got my attention. But as the story went further, it was like, I had goosebumps, you know, my heart…
“You get that feeling in your belly. I just knew. I just know. I’ve got a feeling that it’s my big brother.
Ms Anderson said her older sister Judy agreed.
Amelia Anderson, daughter of former AFL player Jimmy Anderson. Picture: Supplied
“She’s had the same feeling – the reaction after reading the story – and she just looked at me and she said ‘that’s our brother’ and I said ‘I know, thanks for sharing that with me too”.
Ms Anderson said their family grew up in Darwin and had “never ever” met an Anderson “ever” except for an elderly lady from Western Australia their father randomly met at a pub and invited her back to the family home introducing her as their “new aunty”.
“He was so happy that he found another Indigenous person with the same surname as him. And that lady stayed in our life until she passed on a few years ago”.
The family was now determined to “give the bubba some closure” through “DNA testing”.
“You could do DNA testing from one of Dad’s kids,” she said.
“Judy and I have spoken about it, but the older siblings are in denial.”
If it was her older brother, it would be shattering for her.
“I guess I’m going to have to cross that bridge when we come to it – emotionally obviously, I’m going to be more upset if that was my big brother,” Ms Anderson said.
“I’m hoping, even though it’s a sad, sad situation, I’m hoping that he is our blood so we can lay him to rest. And name him.”