Homicide detectives have conducted forensic searches as part of a 20-year investigation into the suspicious disappearance of a teenager from a NSW Coastal town.
Rose Howell, who was 18 at the time, was last seen at 6.15pm on Friday, April 11, 2003 as she headed east along Perry’s Road in Repton, about 20km south of Coffs Harbour.
She was walking in the direction of her home in Bundagen, which was 7km away from Repton, NSW Police said.
Her mother understood that Rose was meeting up with friends in nearby Bellingen, and it was not unusual for her to sleep at her friend’s house.
Howell was reported as missing on Sunday, April 13, after she did not return home to meet her mother for an 11am appointment.
Rose was excited for her upcoming birthday party, police were told at the time.
A coroner’s inquest in 2012 found that Howell was likely dead, but the cause, place and time of death were never determined.
On June 4, police executed a crime scene warrant at a property in Repton as part of ongoing investigations.
Two external areas of the property were searched with ground-penetrating radar.
Four days later, a Ford Falcon believed to be linked to the disappearance was forensically examined
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said police believe there is someone with information about the disappearance.
“Our detectives haven’t – and won’t – give up on finding answers for Rose’s loved ones,” Doherty said.
“Her family deserve answers having dealt with the uncertainty of what happened over two decades ago.
“The public are reminded that there is no piece of information too small for investigators; your tip could be the missing piece of the puzzle in this investigation.”
At the time of her disappearance, she was described as caucasian with an olive complexion and 160-165cm tall, with hazel eyes and short dark hair styled into a mohawk.
The investigation was reopened in 2023, with the NSW Government offering a $750,000 reward for information regarding Howell’s disappearance.
