American beauty queen disappeared from Australian home over 7 years ago, now cadaver dogs just led police to dig up one specific spot in the yard

Mark Sheridan Waden appeared before the Supreme Court in Brisbane for a pre-trial hearing, marking the latest step in a case that has lingered for more than seven years. The 50-year-old has been charged with the murder of his former girlfriend, Priscilla Brooten, who vanished without a trace in 2018. Despite extensive searches and repeated public appeals, Brooten’s body has never been found, yet Waden is also facing an additional charge of interfering with a corpse.

According to People, a magistrate previously ruled that prosecutors had presented enough circumstantial evidence for the matter to proceed to a full trial, pushing the case into its next phase. Waden, who has not yet entered a plea, remains free on bail while legal proceedings continue.

Investigators have long centred their attention on the Bracken Ridge home the couple once shared, treating it as a key location in the suspected crime. In June 2019, police conducted a major search of the property, deploying cadaver dogs who gave a strong indication at a single patch of ground in the front yard. That discovery prompted officers to dig up the area as they searched for any trace of the missing woman, though no remains were recovered.

The timeline of events raises serious questions

Priscilla Brooten was 46 years old when she vanished in July 2018. She was last seen at the Bracken Ridge home she shared with Waden. Her blue Volkswagen Golf hatchback was found abandoned in Scarborough, another Australian suburb, on July 6, 2018. She had been driving that car for about a year.

Despite disappearing in July, Brooten was not reported missing until December 2018. This gap in the timeline stands out as unusual. Cases involving missing women and their former partners often reveal troubling patterns.

Brooten had close family ties in the United States, including a mother and daughter living in California. She was an American beauty queen who loved staying active through yoga and Zumba. She also spent time playing online games.

Police charged a man with murder and misconduct with a corpse in June 2019. Sometimes, family members help solve cold cases that have gone unsolved for years. The Queensland Police Service and the Supreme Court cannot comment further because the case is still ongoing. The next court review is scheduled for February 5, 2026.