The father of murdered Dubbo woman Lateesha Nolan said he has no intention of reading a new book that claims to have previously unreleased insights into murderer Malcolm Naden’s movements in Dubbo.
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The book, The Contractor, was released earlier this week including a series of stories from a private investigator called ‘Mike Daly’ as told to author Mark Abernethy.
One of the sections of the book is about the search for Naden at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
In 2005, one of Mike’s jobs was to investigate reports of a 'homeless person' living within the grounds of the zoo, and he details how Naden stole bananas from elephants, rummaged bins for thrown-out food and slept in the roof of a hut on zoo grounds.
Ms Nolan’s father Mick Peet said he had no contact with the author of the book and first learned of its existence when extracts began to appear in the media earlier this week.
“I’ve had a lot of comments made to me about the book. I haven’t heard anything from anyone connected to the book and the story it tells is very different to what police told me,” Mr Peet said.
“I find it hard to believe that someone was walking around the zoo carrying a shotgun, it just doesn’t seem possible.”
Mr Peet said he lobbied for the zoo to be closed after Naden was spotted there.
Media attention on Lateesha’s murder and the hunt for her killer, which lasted seven years before he was finally caught by police in bushland near Gloucester in the Upper Hunter, had taken a toll on her family, Mr Peet said.
“It just seems like there is always something coming out,” he said.
“I went through hell for seven years before he was caught and it basically cost me everything. I blame a lot of what has happened in my life on the focus I put into trying to find my little girl.
“It never ends for the families of victims, who have to deal with the media and books popping up, you just never now when something else is going to pop up.”
Next week is Missing Person’s Week and after going through everything he did, Mr Peet said he had the greatest of sympathy for people who were searching for answers.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people who are going through it and the not knowing is the worst, it tortures you,” he said.
“Everyone is looking for that closure or at least some certainty on what happened to their loved ones.”
