NSW cold cases: Raphael Joseph, Janine Vaughan, Cheryl Grimmer
These are the cases which have baffled police and left each victim’s loved ones searching for answers. Read the list of NSW’s chilling cold cases and their family members’ heartbreaking words.
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On ANZAC Day, as many woke up to the sound of a bugle, a few wanderers on the outskirts of Newcastle came across a chilling sight.
The body of 22-year-old Melissa Hunt, a mother-of-two, weighted down with rocks but floating in Burrenjim Dam.
She had suffered brutal injuries — there were eleven fractures to her skull. And she had been dead for between three and six days, murdered before her body was discarded into the water.
Now, almost 30 years later, Ms Hunt’s brother Peter Hallett said the questions surrounding her unsolved murder still haunt him.
“People lose loved ones in all kinds of terrible circumstances but mostly people get to say goodbye or even if they don’t, they do understand what happened and who was involved,” Mr Hallett said.
“And so I think for people – for families of unsolved homicide victims — there’s often more questions than answers.
“With Melissa, we don’t know who was involved, we don’t know when exactly she died, where she died, why did someone beat her to death so violently, how exactly did they inflict so many injuries, how she got to the dam where her body was found.”
With all these questions, Mr Hallett said there was also a sense of guilt that comes — something he thinks many survivors go through.
“There’s just endless questions and so with those tends to come a sense of guilt that maybe you haven’t done enough or you didn’t do enough before that,” he said.
“You think if I’d done something different maybe this wouldn’t have happened, but of course the real issue is that you don’t know who committed this crime.”
Mr Hallett said it was in 2019, coming up to the grim 25th anniversary of his sister’s death, when he and his family decided to make a renewed effort.
“It’s because I believe there are people who know what happened,” he said. “They know what’s happened, they haven’t brought that information forward or they have some part of the information that could make a real difference.
“Nearly 30 years is long enough to hold those secrets and it’s really time to … bring forward any relevant information and tell somebody what they know.”
Melissa Hunt is just one of about 500 unsolved cases NSW police are working through.
According to a NSW police force spokeswoman, “unsolved” means there has been a murder or a suspected murder and no person has been charged.
“Unsolved case work is tedious, difficult and extremely challenging – it’s as much about initiating new leads and advancements as bringing answers to families and loved ones of the victim,” the spokeswoman said.
“Regardless of how much time has transpired, any information that can be provided from the public is valuable – it can assist investigators in generating new leads and bring a new perspective to unsolved cases.”
Read the list of NSW’s chilling cold cases and their family members’ heartbreaking words.
Raphael Joseph
Raphael Joseph was last seen getting into the back seat of a silver Holden Commodore at Dartbrook Rd, Auburn, on March 20, 2014.
The 37-year-old was reported missing by his family two days later and it was quickly established he likely met with foul play.
According to police, Mr Joseph’s body was stuffed inside a 44-gallon drum before being taken to a property on the outskirts of Sydney.
Police already know a slew of details about the murder — the drug syndicate behind it, its members, as well as where and how Mr Joseph was killed.
In 2018, head of the NSW Homicide Squad, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook said police need a few more details to solve the case.
“We know a lot about what happened but need a few more pieces to fall into place before we can charge those involved,’’ said Detective Cook.
“Mr Joseph certainly knew his killers and they killed him rather than paying the substantial amount of money they owed him.”
There is a $1 million reward for anyone who has information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Mr Joseph’s death.
Janine Vaughan
Janine Vaughan was last seen leaving a Bathurst nightclub and climbing into a small red sedan on Keppel St, in the early hours of December 7, 2001.
Police believe the same red car approached another woman just ten minutes prior and less than one kilometre away from where Ms Vaughan was picked up.
No trace of the 31-year-old sales assistant has ever been found despite extensive inquiries.
In 2019, Ms Vaughan’s sister, Kylie Spelde, said the previous decades were very tough for her family.
“Every day without my sister, who was so full of life, is unbearable, and 18 years is a long time without any contact and any answers,” Ms Spelde said.
“It’s heartbreaking to know Janine was living her life, and then someone — or some people — took all of that away from her and from us.”
A $1 million reward is available for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Ms Vaughan’s death.
Cheryl Grimmer
Cheryl Gene Grimmer, then aged three, was kidnapped outside the change sheds at Fairy Meadow Beach on January 12, 1970.
Despite extensive searches at the time and over the years, she has never been found.
In 2020, a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction was announced.
Cheryl’s brother, Ricki Nash, said the Grimmer family were hopeful the reward would help close the case.
“There are no words to describe the pain of losing a sister and the impact Cheryl’s disappearance has had on our entire family,” Mr Nash said.
“Every day we are reminded of the tragic way she was taken from us and we hope this reward is what is needed to bring justice for Cheryl.”
Lee Ellen Stace
Lee Ellen Stace was last seen on September 2, 1997, when she finished work at a Yamba Road supermarket – a job she had started a week earlier.
Her family reported the 16-year-old missing, which sparked a large-scale police and community search operation. Six weeks later, her remains were located in the Yuraygir National Park near Brooms Head.
During the 2009 coronial inquest into Ms Stace’s suspected murder, a number of suspects were named and the Coroner recommended the investigation be referred to the Homicide Squad for future investigation.
In 2019, her father, Peter Stace, said the family had never given up hope of finding out what happened.
“We have struggled every single day since we lost her and hope the reward will give someone one million reasons to come forward now – we just want that information,” he said.
There is a $1 million reward for information about Ms Stace’s murder.
Bowraville murders: Colleen Walker-Craig, Evelyn Greenup, Clinton Speedy-Duroux
Evelyn Greenup disappeared after being put to bed at her grandmother’s Bowraville home on October 4, 1990. Her remains were found in bushland near Congarinni Rd in April 1991.
Colleen Walker-Craig was aged just 16 when she was last seen at a party in Bowraville on September 13, 1990.
Her family reported her missing the following day, and her weighted down clothes were later found in the Nambucca River. Even though her body has never been found, the NSW Coroner found she had most likely been murdered.
Clinton Speedy-Duroux was only 16-years-old when he disappeared after a party at Bowraville on January 31, 1991. Soon after, his remains were found in bushland near Congarinni Rd.
A man was charged on separate occasions over two of the children’s murders and was subsequently acquitted.
The three murders were originally investigated separately, before being linked by the Homicide Squad under Strike Force Ancud.
There are now three separate $1 million rewards for information to help solve each murder.
Margaret Howlett
Margaret ‘Peggy’ Howlett, an 84-year-old grandmother, was found deceased within her home at Dunolly Rd, Dunolly – a suburb of Singleton – on the evening of April 2, 1994.
Ms Howlett died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and subsequent forensic analysis of items seized at her house have provided police with an as-yet unidentified DNA profile.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Davis from the Unsolved Homicide Team said investigators were now conducting further inquiries into the brutal murder of Ms Howlett.
“The callous manner and cause of death of such a frail and elderly victim raised serious concerns in this large rural community and is still spoken of today,” Det Sgt Davis said.
“Mrs Howlett’s attacker attempted to destroy evidence of the crime by setting a fire within the house. This may also indicate an interest in lighting fires or the use of fire in other offending behaviour.
“We are also hopeful that the unidentified DNA profile will assist us in the identification of an offender and bring resolution to this matter, giving closure to the family.”
A reward of up to $100,000 remains in place for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Ms Howlett’s murder.
William ‘Bill’ Roach
William Roach was 25 when he was last seen on Barney St, Armidale, on New Year’s Eve in 1993. He was reported missing in early 1994.
In 2010, a coronial inquest was conducted and found it was likely Mr Roach had died but the cause of death was undetermined. His body has never been located.
This was despite extensive investigations over the years, including the execution of a crime scene warrant at a property on the outskirts of Armidale in February 2016.
In 2021, William’s sister, Kim Roach, said she was hopeful for answers.
“It has been 27 years since we have heard from Bill and we just want to know what happened to him,” she said.
There is a $1 million reward for information about his disappearance and suspected murder.
George Brown
The body of 38-year-old George Brown was found in a burnt-out Ford Falcon sedan in bushland at Bulli Tops just before 11pm on April 2, 1984.
Mr Brown died from head injuries inflicted before the car fire.
In 2014, Mr Brown’s sister, Jean O’Leary, said the family had never given up hope of finding out what happened three decades ago.
“I had a very close relationship with my brother, George, and helped raise him after our mother died,” Ms O’Leary said. “George was a good man and his death has impacted our entire family.
“Every year since he was murdered, I have hoped that someone would come forward because it’s the right thing to do.”
There is a $1 million reward for information to help solve his murder.
Jessica Small
Jessica Small, 15, was last seen in the early hours of October 16, 1997 after attending the ‘Amuse Me’ centre on Russell St, Bathurst, with a female friend.
The girls were attempting to hitchhike home and entered a white-coloured sedan driven by an unknown man.
Police were told the man stopped the car on Hereford St, Bathurst, turned off the headlights and assaulted both girls.
Her friend was able to escape and alert nearby residents, but the car drove off with Ms Small still inside.
Jessica has not been seen or heard from since.
There is a $1 million reward for information about the disappearance and suspected murder of Ms Small.
Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Scott Cook welcomed the reward.
“We hope by refreshing the case in people’s memories – and with this significant increase in the reward – we get that missing piece of the puzzle; the information that leads to an arrest,” Det Supt Cook said.
Melissa Hunt
Melissa Hunt, a young mum, was found near the weir wall of Burrenjim Dam, Bluegum Creek via Stockrington, on April 25, 1994.
A post mortem examination revealed she died from severe head injuries.
Strike Force Impey, comprised of detectives from the Lake Macquarie Police District and the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, was formed to investigate her death.
In 2020, a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction was announced.
Melissa’s brother, Mr Peter Hallett, said he hoped the reward may help detectives uncover new leads to finally provide justice for his sister and family.
“Melissa was deeply loved by our family and we have never stopped missing her and desperately wishing that her life had not been cut short,” Mr Hallett said.
“We should not just have memories of Melissa’s beautiful dark eyes, her mischievous laugh, musical talent, eye for detail, passion for writing and fierce love for her family and two children – we should all be able to hold her now.
“Melissa was robbed of her life and of her right to know and love her children, and as a family we cannot rest until justice is served.”
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