Sharon Fulton: Husband charged over 1986 cold case disappearance

The husband of Sharon Fulton, whose 1986 disappearance from Perth’s northern suburbs sat among Western Australia’s most infamous cold cases, has been charged with her murder.

Maxwell Robert Fulton, 77, who now goes by Raymond Reddington, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday after being charged by special crime squad investigators with a count of wilful murder.

It’s been 37 years since mother of four Ms Fulton went missing from her Duncraig home where she was last seen on March 18, 1986.

The body of the 39-year-old has never been found.

Mr Reddington, who now uses a wheelchair, appeared via videolink from Perth Watch House, and was represented by a duty lawyer.

Asked if he understood the charge against him, he said: “I haven’t been given anything, no papers or anything.”

His bail was not considered, and he was remanded in custody to appear before Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on November 22.

Addressing media on Friday afternoon, WA Police Detective Superintendent Darryl Cox said it was a significant day for Ms Fulton’s surviving family.

“The impact of her disappearance on her children has been horrific,” Detective Superintendent Cox said.

“They’ve been without a mother for 37 years and now their father has been arrested, so it’s very difficult time for the family and they have been processing that information.

“I personally spoke to one of Sharon’s children this morning and although distressed he said that he was very confident in the justice system.

“Over the last 37 years, the family and friends have been seeking answers and we’re hoping today that they have some answers.”

Western Australia Police and the state government in May offered a reward of $1m for any information leading to a conviction in the cold case investigation.

Ms Fulton and Mr Reddington married in 1967 and moved to Perth from Brisbane in the early 1980s.

Their son Heath Fulton, who was three years old at the time of his mother’s disappearance, in March told The Sunday Times Magazine that he wanted the truth to come out, no matter if it hurt.

“There is nothing more I want in life than the truth to what happened to mum,” Mr Fulton told STM.

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“What we need is to bring her to peace and to move on, knowing we can lay her body to rest and have somewhere that we can visit her.

“Whoever was involved in her death has lived their life for the last 37 years knowing they have caused my siblings and I so much pain and torture by not knowing what happened to our mother.

“That person would be old now. They have an opportunity to bring us some small comfort in providing the truth.”

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