A 34-year missing person case was solved thanks to the determination of two detectives, science and a bit of chance timing.⁣ ⁣ In April 1986, then-35-year-old Robert Mather moved from Morwell to Perth to start a new job after his military career ended due to a knee injury he sustained during service.⁣ ⁣ In September, he spoke to his mother on the phone, telling her he was heading home to Melbourne to pick up a compensation cheque from the army, although this would be the last time he was ever heard from.⁣ ⁣ Robert Mather’s missing person case sat unsolved, with next to no leads, before Victoria Police Detectives Sergeant Mick Van Der Heyden and Senior Constable Michael Fowler picked it up in 2021.⁣ ⁣ The two detectives were looking at every avenue they could to uncover some sort of lead. They took DNA samples from Robert’s known relatives and obtained his medical records from the ADF, which they then uploaded to the National Missing Persons and Victim System (NMPVS) - a national platfo...