An inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of a Sydney woman has heard fresh details about the man believed to be the last to see her alive.
Jessica Zrinski had been living with her grandmother in Bossley Park in Western Sydney when she went missing on November 29, 2022.
The 31-year-old’s disappearance was reported to police in the days that followed, with homicide detectives taking charge of the investigation in January 2023.
A $500,000 reward for information to assist the investigation was later announced, but Ms Zrinski has never been found.
No charges have ever been laid over her disappearance.
Jessica Zrinski left in a blue Holden Commadore station wagon. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Inquest shown footage of last known movements
An inquest into her suspected death is now underway, with the NSW Coroner’s Court on Monday shown images and footage of Ms Zrinski’s last known movements.
Wearing an orange crop top and black leggings, Ms Zrinski was seen entering the Greenfield Tavern car park at 10:02pm on November 28.
The inquest heard it was here she encountered Paul Jones for the first time, with the man believed to be in his early 40s spotted inside the pub’s pokies area earlier in the evening.
The pair were not known to each other.
Counsel assisting Chris McGorey told the inquest it was not unheard of for Ms Zrinski to approach people she did not know in the hopes of acquiring cigarettes or a lift.
The pair were seen leaving the pub in Mr Jones’s blue Holden Commodore, before arriving at a service station in Horsley Park where the man purchased fuel, cigarettes and two bottles of soft drink.
Hours later just before 9am on November 29, the same vehicle was spotted at another service station on Great Western Highway in Mount Victoria.
A person wearing an orange top could be seen in the front passenger seat — the inquest heard the footage was the last known sighting of Ms Zrinski.
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The blue vehicle was spotted on traffic cameras travelling westbound on Great Western Highway at 10:15am, with no one present in the passenger seat.
The counsel assisting told the court two days later on December 1, security cameras captured Mr Jones attending a car wash with the blue station wagon, with staff confirming the man paid $90 for a car polish and detail.
Staff did not report finding blood or any other items of concern in the vehicle, the inquest heard.
Mr McGorey told the court the vehicle was seized as part of a search warrant conducted at the Sydney caravan park where Mr Jones was residing, but the inquest heard no evidence of interest was discovered.
Some time later, Mr Jones made a cash withdrawal of $9,000.
Ms Zrinski’s family made a tearful appeal for help. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
The inquest heard he subsequently travelled to Bunbury, Western Australia in late January.
Payphone records suggest he may have travelled to Queensland, but his current whereabouts is unknown.
A subpoena was issued for Mr Jones’s attendance, but the notice has not been served in person.
Ms Zrinski’s mother and father were present in court for the hearing, with the inquest told the woman’s grandmother was unable to attend due to an injury.
Mr McGorey said Ms Zrinski was “dearly loved”, and her disappearance had a “profound impact” on her family.
The inquest has been set down for three days this week, with further hearings to be scheduled for a later date.