MUS-2026-263
Archive card
MUS-2026-263
Homicide
- Incident
- 1991
- Indexed
- Oct 14, 2026, by MuseUnsolved
- Agency
- South Australia Police, Major Crime Investigation Branch
- Location
- Coober Pedy AU
Public record. Index entry.
Index entry. Case details compiled from public reporting; our researchers have not verified this file yet.
Summary
What happened, as the record shows.
Anna Rosa Liva, 30, an experienced traveller from Pordenone in northern Italy, arrived in Coober Pedy by bus from Alice Springs late on November 27, 1991, and booked into accommodation on Olive Street. On the morning of November 28 she ate breakfast at the Last Resort Cafe, returned to her accommodation, told staff she planned to go noodling for opals, and was last confirmed seen at 11:30 a.m. at the council chambers, where she sought tourist information and discussed a shared Jehovah's Witness interest. She had plans for a town tour that afternoon and a Jehovah's Witness meeting that evening, and police said there was no indication she was in personal difficulties. She never returned to her accommodation about 300 metres away. Police searched extensively with Aboriginal trackers and police dogs, and in more recent years searched 12 to 13 mine shafts near where she disappeared, without locating her. Police believe she most likely spoke with someone and went willingly with her killer, and believe her body may have been disposed of in one of the many disused mine shafts around the town. No arrest or conviction is reported.
Timeline
What the record establishes.
- November 27, 1991 (22:00)
Liva arrived in Coober Pedy by bus from Alice Springs and booked into Olive Street accommodation.
- November 28, 1991 (morning)
Ate breakfast at the Last Resort Cafe; returned to accommodation about 09:15; unconfirmed sighting about 09:30 in Edward Street.
- November 28, 1991 (11:30)
Last confirmed sighting at the council chambers, corner of St Nicholas and Hutchinson Streets; she then vanished.
- 1991 and later
Extensive search with Aboriginal trackers and police dogs found nothing; her younger brother travelled from Italy to help search; in more recent years police searched 12 to 13 mine shafts within 500 m of where she disappeared.
- November 30, 2021
Crime Stoppers South Australia re-posted the case profile (earlier profile posted November 30, 2020); no arrest reported.
Key people
The people in the file.
30, Italian tourist from Pordenone. Arrived in Coober Pedy November 27, 1991; last confirmed seen November 28, 1991. Body never found.
Younger brother; travelled from Italy to help search.
Contact details change over time; confirm the current assignee before publishing.
Investigating agency
Where tips go.
This case is with the South Australia Police, Major Crime Investigation Branch. If you know something, say something to them. For public-record leads for our researchers, use the tip line on any open file.
Coverage
Coverage and further reading.
Continue