Who is Chris Dawson? We look into the man accused of murdering his wife Lyn Dawson
CHRIS Dawson had it all— a wife, kids, career. But that all changed after his wife Lyn Dawson’s mysterious disappearance. And days later, his 16-year-old girlfriend moved into the family home.
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HE was the star footy player, turned schoolteacher, with blond hair and a fitness fanatics’ physique.
In the 1970s and ’80s, Chris Dawson was a handsome, successful and charming man, liked by men and women alike.
He would use those looks and charm to woo at least one schoolgirl from Cromer State High into his bed in the early 1980s.
That relationship and the subsequent disappearance and suspected murder of his wife Lynette Dawson, is the subject of the number one podcast in the country, The Teacher’s Pet.
In the 1970s Dawson was a professional footy player with the Newtown Jets in the New South Wales Rugby League, playing alongside his twin brother, Paul Dawson.
Their coach was Paul Broughton, a founding father of the Gold Coast Titans.
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In his playing days Dawson was known as Cranky Chris, due to his temperament on the footy field, while his brother was known as Passive Paul.
LISTEN TO ALL EPISODES OF THE TEACHER’S PET PODCAST HERE
Dawson was also a part-time model for jeans and corn chips during his playing days.
The Dawson brothers were well known in the northern beaches of Sydney, a pair of athletically handsome, identical twins who would go on long runs together.
It appeared he had it all going for him, a decent sporting career, marrying his high school sweetheart Lynette Simms, having two kids and transitioning into becoming a schoolteacher.
Following his retirement from professional footy in the late 1970s, Dawson became a physical education teacher at Cromer High School, where he would meet Joanne Curtis, a Year 11 student of his.
Curtis became the family babysitter and Dawson’s manipulative and physical relationship with the schoolgirl began. The sneaking around would continue through to when Joanne graduated from high school in 1981.
Lyn disappeared shortly after, between January 8-9, 1982. Just days later, Joanne Curtis had moved into the Dawson home.
Dawson and Curtis would marry, have a child together and move to the Gold Coast by 1985, where he would go on to teach at Keebra State High and Coombabah State High School.
He was followed in tow by his brother Paul, also a PE teacher, and his wife and kids.
Between 2001-2003, two inquests were held into the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, with coroner’s finding on both occasions that Lyn was murdered by Chris Dawson in 1982.
No charges were levelled at Dawson, with the Director of Public Prosecutions ruling there was
insufficient evidence. Mr Dawson has always maintained he is innocent.
Now living freely in Noosa with his third wife, Chris Dawson is known to attend Gold Coast Titans training and games when he comes to visit his twin brother on the Coast.
Dawson has refused to take part in the Teacher’s Pet podcast.
In episode four of the Teacher’s Peta person who has never spoken before comes forward with information that may point to a location of Lyn Dawson’s body.
TIMELINE
1970 — 1979
Chris Dawson marries Lynette Simms, both aged 21. They have two daughters together and Chris begins working as a PE teacher at Cromer High School
1980
Chris begins a secret affair with Joanne Curtis, 16, his student, soon after introducing her to his family as the babysitter. He starts asking her to marry him.
1981
Lyn is persuaded by Chris to let Joanne move into their family home as the teenager’s stepfather is violent. Lyn discovers the relationship.
December 1981
Chris flees Sydney with Joanne to start a new life in Queensland, but Joanne has second thoughts and they turn around and return to Sydney.
January 1982
Joanne goes camping with her sister and school friends to mark the end of their schooling. Chris and Lyn go to marriage counselling together.
January 8, 1982
Lyn speaks with her mum on the phone, the next day, Lyn fails to meet her family at Northbridge Baths as planned.
January 10-11, 1982
One or two days after Lyn’s no-show at the pool, Chris drives up the Central Cost to pick up Joanne and they return to Sydney. He asks Joanne to move in with him. He does not report Lyn missing until almost six weeks later.
1983-1985
Chris divorces the missing Lyn and marries Joanne. The couple move to Queensland and have a daughter together.
1985
Chris starts working at Keebra Park State High School.
1990
Joanne and Chris separate and she returns to Sydney. She contacts Lyn’s family and police and provides information about Chris and Lyn.
1992-2000
Areas of the Dawsons’ former Sydney home are excavated by police on different occasions, and a woman’s cardigan is found, in pieces and bearing what appear to be slash marks. Forensic testing does not make a positive match with Lyn.
2001-2003
Two inquests are held into Lyn’s disappearance. Two coroners find she was murdered by someone known to her. Chris does not appear at either inquest. The DPP does not support a prosecution for murder or the laying of charges, citing a lack of evidence.
2010 — 2014
Rewards of up to $200,000 are offered for information to help solve the case.
Timeline by The Australian
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