On Tuesday the 8th of May 1984, 17-year-old Mandy Lee Yodgee’s body was discovered by the side of the Mountain Highway, Sassafras in the Dandenong Ranges.
There are a number of signs that Mandy's disappearance and the circumstances surrounding her death were suspicious, and detectives strongly believe that Mandy was murdered.
On Sunday the 29th of April, 1984, Mandy left her Windsor home at about 4:20pm and travelled by taxi to the South Yarra Arms Hotel on Toorak Road.
At the time she was wearing her favourite pink suede boots, a pink cardigan, blue jeans and was carrying her tan handbag with a fox tail charm attached to the handle.
According to a family friend, when Mandy left home, she indicated she'd be spending the night at her boyfriend's flat.
Mandy arrived at the South Yarra Arms Hotel about 5:30pm, and witnesses told police that Mandy stayed for about an hour.
Witnesses also reported seeing Mandy socialising and drinking with a male before leaving the hotel with him an hour later. The male was not Mandy's boyfriend of the time.
Mandy and the male, travelled in his car to the nearby Windsor Castle Hotel on Albert Street, Windsor, arriving at about 6:45pm.
At 11pm that night, Mandy and the male left the hotel together and drove in his car to a pizza restaurant on Bendigo Street, Prahran.
After purchasing food, Mandy went with the male to his unit in Prahran where they ate the pizza and continued drinking until the early hours of the morning.
When questioned by investigators, the male stated that Mandy left the unit alone sometime after 1:30am. He also said that Mandy intended to call a taxi as he was unable to drive her home due to his level of intoxication.
Investigators do know that Mandy did not attend her boyfriend's flat and there is nothing to verify Mandy ever left the male’s unit.
Having not been home or gone to work for three days, Mandy was reported missing on Wednesday the 2nd of May, 1984 at the Prahran Police Station.
She had missed her 18th birthday celebration and had not been seen or heard from by her family members or boyfriend.
On Tuesday, the 8th of May 1984, Mandy's body was discovered. She was face down and fully clothed.
However, her pink suede boots had been removed.
Investigators believe they may have been removed and thrown from the highway down the embankment where she was eventually discovered.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed Mandy's movements between the 29th of April 1984 and the 8th of May 1984, particularly in either the South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor and Dandenong Ranges area.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Despite the passage of almost 40 years, Mandy is never far from the thoughts of her loving family who still desperately grieve her.
Not knowing why Mandy was taken from them and what she may have endured in her final hours torments them to this day.
Police and Mandy's family are hopeful those with information come forward and can give them much needed answers.
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