Northern NSW missing persons: NSW Police, AFP database of last sightings

More than 2500 people have been missing long-term in Australia. As part of Missing Persons Week, take a look at the people from northern NSW who remain unaccounted for.

The mother of Rose Howell has longed for the return of her teenage daughter for more than 20 years.

Last week, she pleaded for help, believing “someone must know something”, as police revealed a fresh $750,000 reward for information.

Rose, then aged 18, was last seen walking east along Perrys Rd, Repton in the direction of her home in Bundagen – about 25km south of Coffs Harbour – just after 6pm on April 11, 2003.

“Rose was a strong and independent woman in the prime of her life who wouldn’t have simply run away — that’s why I believe someone must know something about what happened,” her mum Malila Howell said.

“A lot can change in 20 years and I’m hoping in the two decades that have passed someone’s situation may have changed in a way that enables them to talk to police.

“Rosie’s dad passed away without ever knowing what happened to her and all I hope for her three grieving brothers and I is that we find some answers in our lifetime.”

Malila Howell, the mother of missing Rose Howell. Picture: Nathan Edwards.

Rose Howell is just one of the many missing people from northern NSW – a lengthy patch stretching from north of Newcastle to the Queensland border.

In Australia, police receive more than 38,000 missing persons reports each year.

Rose Howell is just one of northern NSW’s many long-term missing people.

In NSW alone, there were 9395 people reported missing just last year. Of those, 6840 were located inside 48 hours.

While most people are found in a short period of time, there remains about 2600 long-term missing persons nationwide – these are people who have not been found for more than three months.

There is a range of reasons people can go missing, including mental illness, domestic violence, miscommunication, misadventure and being the victim of a crime, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

In 2016, research commissioned by the AFP National Missing Persons Coordination Centre found more than 60 per cent of people who go missing will return or are found within 48 hours. 98 per cent of people reported missing are ultimately located — most are found alive.

To mark Missing Persons Week 2023, here are just some of the people – each far more than just a name or statistic, but a loved one, friend or family member – who have disappeared in northern NSW since 1990.

A full list of NSW long-term missing people can be found here.