Victoria Police have reopened a cold case from 40 years ago involving Albert Pisani, who went missing in October 1986 and whose body was found under suspicious circumstances six months later. A $1 million reward remains active for information leading to the conviction of those responsible. Family members have renewed their appeal for public assistance on the anniversary of his disappearance, with police suggesting a workplace dispute could be related to his death.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In October 1986, Albert Pisani, a father from Gippsland in Victoria, Australia, went missing while walking on Prince Street in Moe. His family initially wasn't concerned as he often went on road trips for days at a time. However, after several days of no contact, he was reported missing to the police on 15 October 1986. In June 1987, his body was found under suspicious circumstances. The Victoria Police reopened this cold case in early October 2023, coinciding with the fortieth anniversary of Pisani's disappearance. They have been speaking to family members, friends, and associates to uncover more details about his death. A reward of up to $1 million, announced in 2016, remains available for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for his death.
Written for “Cold Case Reopened” on 2026-10-10,
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In short:
Gippsland father Albert Pisani went missing in October 1986 and his body was found in suspicious circumstances in June 1987.
asserted
body → go → June
Victoria Police have reopened the cold case with Mr Pisani's family members making a public appeal for information.
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members → reopen → information
A reward of up to $1 million, announced in 2016, will be paid for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Mr Pisani.
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reward → announce → Pisani
Family members of Albert Pisani have appealed to the public for information on the fortieth anniversary of the slain Gippsland father's disappearance.
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members → appeal → disappearance
Missing Persons Squad detectives are returning the spotlight on the cold case, exactly four decades on from the 27-year-old's disappearance in Victoria's east, on 10 October 1986.
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detectives → return → October
Victoria Police said Mr Pisani was last seen walking on Moe's Prince Street, and it was understood he was intending to use a bank in Moe's town centre then return home to his partner and five children for lunch.
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he → say → lunch
"Albert would regularly travel for a few days on road trips, so family members were not immediately concerned.
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members → travel → trips
He was reported missing to police a few days later on 15 October," a Victoria Police statement read.
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statement → report → October
"Following extensive searches, Albert's remains were located in bushland in Driffield on 9 June 1987, approximately 20km from where he resided in Moe.
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he → follow → Moe
"Police believe Albert was met with foul play which subsequently led to his death."
Investigations have taken place over the past 40 years, and police have spoken to Mr Pisani's family, friends and associates to try and determine the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
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police → believe → disappearance
Police believe Mr Pisani was involved in a dispute at his workplace, the State Electricity Commission (SEC) Briquette Factory in nearby Morwell, before he went missing.
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he → believe → Morwell
"Albert had a fascination with trucks, developed relationships with local and interstate truck drivers and would regularly hitchhike across Australia," Victoria Police said.
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Police → have → Australia
At this stage, it remains unclear who may have been involved and if there is any possible motivation for causing him harm.
uncertain
who → remain → harm
Two of Mr Pisani's sisters, Carol Ward and Karen Pisani, have released public statements reflecting on their brother's disappearance and the impact it had on their family.
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it → release → family
"Albert was the eldest of eight siblings, worked at the SEC and had a big passion for trucks," Karen Pisani said.
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Pisani → work → trucks
"Unfortunately, I never got to know my brother and godfather, but his death has had a huge impact on my everyday life.
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death → get → life
"Our mother, Mary, died in 2016 after suffering significantly from Albert's murder.
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mother → die → murder
It was extremely difficult seeing the extent of my mother's pain as Albert was dearly missed and loved by all.
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Albert → see → all
"Forty years on, I still live in fear of the unknown crime.
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I → live → crime
We need anyone with any information to come forward so we can fully put him to rest.
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we → need → rest
"
No criminal history
Mr Pisani had no criminal history and was not known to police prior to his disappearance.
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Pisani → have → disappearance
In 2016, at the time of the 30th anniversary of Mr Pisani's disappearance, Victoria Police announced a $1 million reward for information to identify those responsible for the Gippsland father's death.
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Police → announce → death
Missing Persons Squad detective inspector David Dunstan said police did not believe Mr Pisani took his own life.
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Pisani → say → life
"We simply don't know what happened to him, and we need help from the public to solve this case," he said.
"
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he → know → case
These types of missing persons investigations are never closed and sadly, Albert's killer remains out there.
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killer → miss → investigations
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