Zumba Instructor Denies Murder Charge in Police Interview Over Missing US Girlfriend
Mark Sheridan Waden, a Zumba instructor, told police "I didn't do it" during a 2019 interview regarding the 2018 disappearance of his girlfriend Priscilla Brooten, a US citizen, whose body was never found. Waden is now on trial for her alleged murder and has pleaded not guilty, with police having excavated his front yard during the investigation. The case hinges on circumstantial evidence including Waden's factory reset of Brooten's phone and his relationship deterioration after discovering she was in Australia illegally.
Mark Sheridan Waden, accused of killing his girlfriend Priscilla Brooten, denied the charge during a June 2019 police interview that lasted over 90 minutes, which was presented to a jury in his Supreme Court trial. Brooten, a US citizen, disappeared from their shared Brisbane home in 2018 and her body has never been recovered. During the interview, Waden explained that their relationship deteriorated due to his new real estate job, Brooten's mental health issues, and his discovery that she had been living in Australia illegally using false names. He claimed she left him voluntarily after he threatened to contact immigration authorities, taking three suitcases of clothing. However, police presented evidence that Waden factory reset Brooten's phone and gave it to his new girlfriend Desiree Hatzipapas, and questioned him about driving Brooten's car to her ex-boyfriend's location. When shown photos of police excavating his yard, Waden requested legal representation and maintained his innocence.
What's missing
The article does not provide details on what physical evidence, if any, was found during the yard excavation, the timeline of when Brooten's disappearance was reported versus when it was discovered, or the specific evidence prosecutors are relying on to support the murder charge beyond the circumstantial details mentioned.
What different sources said
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
‘I didn’t do it’ accused killer tells police after girlfriend’s disappearance
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