Promising new information comes to light about one of QLD’s most enduring murder mysteries
THE disappearance of Sharron Phillips is one of Queensland’s most enduring mysteries. But new information received by police could change everything.
THE disappearance of Sharron Phillips is one of Queensland’s most enduring mysteries.
But the cold case could soon be solved with a new tip off that has led police to excavate a site in search of her remains, southwest of Brisbane.
Ms Phillips vanished in the dark of the night from Wacol in 1986.
Police today started excavating nearby Ipswich City Council owned land at Carole Park, with investigators particularly focused on drains at the site.
Some 100 cubic metres of soil will be removed from drains during the search, which is expected to last around a week.
The new information from an unidentified source has reportedly come to light following intense media coverage of the 30-year anniversary of Ms Phillips’ disappearance earlier this month.
Detective Superintendent Damien Hansen said the tip-off was credible.
“The aspects of what they say have been verified in a lot of detail from previous investigations,” he said at the site on Tuesday.
“We had not spoken to this person previously ... the person has come forward because of their conscience.”
It was an unfortunate chain of events that led Ms Phillips to presumedly meet with foul play on May 8, 1986.
Ms Phillips’ ran out of petrol so she went to a nearby army barracks to make a phone call, but was turned away.
She was later seen waiting for her boyfriend after using a public phone around 11pm.
Since that night 30 years ago, there have been dozens of theories and speculation about what could have happened to the popular shop assistant.
The cold case took a shock twist earlier this month when three of her siblings called for police to investigate their father’s alibi.
They also called for police to search a block of bushland next to their parents’ home at Riverview.
But Supt Hansen said investigators hadn’t received information specific enough to warrant a search of that area.
A $250,000 reward remains on offer for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Det Supt Hansen said police were “very committed” to solving the case and appealed for anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers.
- With AAP
Huge update in alleged pillow murder plot
The case against a woman who allegedly plotted to kill the former partner of her lover using a pillow has reached a significant milestone.
Outrage at nurses’ anti-Semitic video grows
A police investigation is “well underway” after two nurses made shocking threats during anti-Semitic rant that was recorded and shared on social media.
‘Love triangle’ led to boy’s alleged murder
A teenage love triangle allegedly sparked a series of events that led to a 15-year-old boy who had nothing to do with it being killed, a court has heard.