Cold case murder victim was 'shaking with fear' before she disappeared

Barbara McCulkin's brother has broken his silence, saying his sister was "shaking with fear" in the weeks before she and her two daughters disappeared in 1974.

Graham Ogden, 77, told News Corp he has pleaded for the bodies of his sister and her daughters Vicki, 13, and Leanne, 11, to be found so they can be honoured with a proper burial.

Warwick man Vincent O'Dempsey, 76, and Torbanlea man Gary "Shorty" Dubois, 67, were both charged on Saturday with three counts of murder, and three counts of deprivation of liberty.

Both men have been in custody since their arrests and will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

They were charged with murder in 1980 however they walked free when charges were dropped.

Mr Ogden and wife Maureen, 70, will meet with police later today to discuss the case.

He said he wants to know where the remains of his sister and two nieces are so they can be given a proper burial and "some sort of closure".

"Even a few bones, a part of tissue, whatever it might be so we can give them some decent burial," he said.

Ms McCulkin and her two daughters Vicki and Leanne were reported missing on January 19, 1974 by Billy McCulkin, their father.

Mr Ogden said Ms McCulkin was worried about the behaviour of her estranged husband Mr McCulkin before her disappearance.

"She was terrified, she was shaking with fear," he said.

A police spokesman said the case was "significantly stronger" after members of the public provided them with new evidence.