"A coroner has determined that 21-year-old Josh Warneke, whose body was found by the side of Old Broome Road in February 2010, was likely murdered."
Findings
The death of Josh Warneke has been officially classified as a likely murder. The 21-year-old sustained a fatal head injury from blunt force trauma inflicted with a weapon. To date, the identity of the person responsible remains unknown. His body was discovered by the side of Old Broome Road in February 2010.
Police Investigation Criticized
Coroner Ros Fogliani was sharply critical of the initial police response, stating that resources were not allocated to the level that would have been applied in a metropolitan area. Key failures identified during the inquest include:
- Forensic examiners were not called to the scene.
- Samples for testing were not taken.
- Officers moved the body and covered it with an unsterile sheet, risking the destruction of forensic evidence.
- Black marks on the victim's forearm were not recognized as relevant, and samples were not preserved.
Background
Mr. Warneke had been drinking at bars in Broome on the night of February 25, 2010, and was last seen on CCTV at a local McDonald's drive-thru. His body was discovered shortly after 3am the next day.
Gene Gibson was initially convicted of the murder but was acquitted on appeal in 2017 after spending nearly five years in prison. He received $1.3 million in compensation. A subsequent Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry heavily criticized the police officers involved in Gibson's arrest.
Next Steps
Coroner Fogliani will report her findings to the Department of Public Prosecutions for further investigation, which may lead to a new police probe. Police have offered a $1 million reward for information leading to a resolution in the case. A two-week coronial inquest was held in September 2024, hearing from 30 witnesses.