Detectives will spend this week in Bowraville, in northern NSW, in an effort to find the remains of 16-year-old Colleen Walker-Craig, who went missing 34 years ago.
Colleen is one of three Aboriginal children who went missing within a five-month period from the small country town on the NSW Mid North Coast.
The remains of Evelyn Greenup, four, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16, were found in bushland near Congarinni Road in 1991.
Evelyn disappeared after being put to bed at her grandmother’s Bowraville home on October 4, 1990, while Clinton was last seen at a party in Bowraville on January 31, 1991.
Colleen’s weighted down clothes were found in the Nambucca River after her family reported her missing in September 1990 but her remains have never been found.
A NSW coroner found she is likely to have been murdered and police have long believed the three deaths are at the hands of the same killer.
A man charged on separate occasions over two of the murders has since been acquitted.
Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said detectives were committed to finding Colleen’s remains.
“We are as dedicated today as we were 34 years ago to finding those responsible for these heinous crimes,” Doherty said.
“One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this case is that Colleen’s remains have never been found, and that will be a key focus of our detectives this week.
“Finding Colleen’s remains is absolutely critical in helping us close this painful chapter and we are hopeful there are still people out there who have information that could point us in the right direction.
“Detectives will be spending the week in Bowraville to spread community consciousness and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
“Now is the time.”
A $1 million reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each of the children’s murders remains in place, as well as for information leading to the recovery of Colleen’s remains.
Detectives will be at Grant’s Hall on High Street in Bowraville each weekday this week between 9am to 4pm.
Those unable to come to the hall can request an investigator visit them by calling Crime Stoppers.
