New DNA, a $500k reward and a son desperate for answers

Elaine Hodgkinson never found out who murdered her beloved husband nearly 40 years ago, but his son hopes enhanced forensic testing and the promise of a $500,000 reward will bring his family answers.

Taxi driver Bryan Hodgkinson, 48, didn’t return home from an overnight shift in the central Queensland town of Bundaberg on the morning of September 10, 1987.

His body was found 32 kilometres away in Goodwood with severe injuries to his head and throat, and stab wounds to his abdomen and chest.

Taxi driver Bryan Hodgkinson with his wife Elaine.Credit: Queensland Police Service

The taxi he was driving, with Queensland registration T26-053, was recovered a short time later, neatly parked outside 7 Beatrice Street in Bundaberg.

Police believe it was driven back into town by an unknown person that night.

There was no damage to the car, but money was missing from his wallet and the taxi driver’s coin dispenser could not be found.

“Getting answers, that’s really something I’d be looking at ... what happened? Why it happened? Who did it? Even if someone’s still not alive, it still gives us closure,” son Stephen Hodgkinson said on Wednesday.

The taxi driven by Bryan Hodgkinson on the night of his murder.Credit: Queensland Police

Stephen said his mother Elaine never recovered from the distress of losing her husband.

She died last year after decades without answers as to who killed him.

“She’d given up the hope of finding anything after such a long period of time,” Stephen said.

Bryan Hodgkinson with his wife Elaine and their children.Credit: Queensland Police Service

Fresh DNA has now been found thanks to new and enhanced forensic testing of evidence seized from Hodgkinson’s taxi and near his body, which has sparked a renewed probe.

“This is a new line of inquiry not known to previous investigators,” Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said.

A $500,000 reward has also been announced for anyone with information that could help solve the cold-case murder.

“We know there are people out there who can provide crucial information in relation to Bryan’s murder,” Kentwell said.

Logs for the Bundaberg Taxi Company show he received a fare about half an hour before he was due to finish his shift to collect a passenger named “Sykes” from the corner of Targo Street and Burnett Street.

It is not known whether he ever picked up the customer. Police are now appealing to “Sykes” to come forward as they believe that person holds valuable information to help solve the murder.

“Police would like to speak with the person with the name ‘Sykes’ who called Bundaberg Taxis at 12.31am on September 10, 1987,” Kentwell said.

Goodwood Road, where Hodgkinson’s body was found, led to a former youth home called Peirson Memorial Home. The road has since been renamed Peirson Road.

Murdered man Bryan Hodgkinson.Credit: Queensland Police

“We are seeking any person who may have seen Bryan’s taxi travelling out of and back into Bundaberg CBD in the early hours [that day] to contact police,” Kentwell said.

“The round trip from Bundaberg to Peirson [Road] was approximately 65 kilometres and police believe that someone involved with Bryan’s murder drove his taxi back into Bundaberg.”

Investigations have been extensive since 1987, with about 170 statements taken from possible witnesses.

The case had stalled in 2018 when an inquest heard Anthony Bruce Beer allegedly told his partner of his involvement in the killing while she was wearing a police wire.

Beer had been charged with being an accessory to the murder in 2009, but the case was dropped after a magistrate ruled there was insufficient evidence.

He claimed privilege on the basis that his evidence may incriminate him during the 2018 inquest and could not be compelled to speak.

Laws were changed in 2020, in the wake of the inquest, to give the coroner the power to compel witnesses to give evidence even if it may incriminate them.

Kentwell said the new DNA evidence did not relate to any previous persons of interest.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a report online via the Crime Stoppers website.

with AAP

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