On average 28 people go missing every day in New South Wales, most of whom are found almost immediately. Less than one per cent go on to become Long Term Missing Persons.
The national definition of ‘Long Term’ is any person missing for over 90 days.
New South Wales Police offer rewards for information on unsolved cases, including disappearances and murders that haven’t been linked to an offender.
Here are five infamous cases police want to solve in New South Wales:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following article contains names, voices and images of deceased persons.
1. The disappearance of William Tyrrell
About 10.30 am on Friday 12 September 2014, William, then aged three, was playing in the yard of his grandmother’s home on Benaroon Drive, Kendall, when he disappeared.
On the second anniversary of William’s disappearance, the NSW Government announced a $1 million reward for information that leads to the recovery of William Tyrrell.
To hear details of the William Tyrrell case, listen to this episode of True Crime Garage.
2. The Luna Park ghost train fire
About 10.15 pm on Saturday 9 June 1979, emergency services were called to Luna Park at Milsons Point, following reports of a fire inside the Ghost Train ride.
Six boys and a man were killed in the blaze. In September that year, a Coronial Inquest found the cause of the blaze could not be determined.
To this day, Homicide Squad detectives are still reviewing the circumstances surrounding the fatal blaze, and there’s a $1 million reward for information.
To hear details of the Luna Park case, listen to this episode of Just The Gist.
3. The disappearance of Cheryl Grimmer
Cheryl Gene Grimmer, then aged three, was kidnapped outside the change sheds at Fairy Meadow Beach on Monday 12 January 1970, where she was spending the day with her mother and three brothers.
The NSW Government has listed a $1 million reward for information into the abduction and suspected murder.
To hear details of the Cheryl Grimmer case, listen to BBC’s podcast Fairy Meadow
4. The murder of Theresa Binge
43-year-old Theresa Binge was last seen alive about midnight on 17 June 2003, leaving the Victoria Hotel at Goondiwindi in Queensland with a man.
Theresa’s body was found approximately on Boomi Road, New South Wales. Forensic evidence indicates the crime was committed elsewhere before her body was moved.
The reward for this case isn’t $1 million, but the Barwon Local Area Command is still investigating the case. The New South Wales and Queensland Governments are offering a $100,000 joint reward for information.
Former Detective Greg Lamey will never forget this case, even after having left the force and moved on. He details the case on Crime Insiders: Detectives.
To hear details of the Theresa Binge case, listen to Crime Insiders: The Unsolved Boggabilla Murder
5. The Bowraville murders
Colleen Walker-Craig was aged 16 when she was last seen at a party in Bowraville on Thursday 13 September 1990.
Her family reported her missing the following day, and her clothes were found in the Nambucca River.
Her murder – as well as that of Colleen’s 4-year-old cousin, Evelyn Greenup, and 16-year-old Clinton Speedy-Duroux – were originally investigated separately, before being linked by the Homicide Squad under Strike Force Ancud.
A man has previously been charged on separate occasions over two of the children’s murders and was subsequently acquitted.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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