Unsolved Toowoomba deaths: Seven cases where officers are still looking for answers

From a train derailment in remote bushland to a mum killed in a Warrego Hwy hit-and-run to suspected murder over a kangaroo meat rivalry – these are the cases that continue to confound police.

Most of the time police catch a killer within hours, days or weeks of a suspicious death but sometimes, whether through mishap or mystery, cases can go unsolved for decades.

Even coronial inquiries and big rewards fail to bring closure to families in mourning.

Hit and run victim, Julie Thomsen was killed while walking along the Warrego Highway at Hatton Vale in December of 2019.

1. Julie Thomsen

The hit and run death of Gatton mum Julie Thomsen remains a mystery almost three years after she died beside the Warrego Highway at Hatton Vale.

Ms Thomsen was killed by an unknown driver who hit her while she walked along the highway between 10.30-11pm on December 14, 2019.

The case has confounded Forensic Crash Unit investigators who were left with very little evidence to work with.

Just a single plastic shard from a headlight cover and a plastic door step remained after the driver fled.

Officers from the unit have visited countless second-hand car dealerships and wrecking yards to narrow down the make and model of the suspect vehicle.

Read more here.

2. Jeremiah Rivers

The last time Jeremiah Rivers was seen, he was 20km south of Noccundra at Wilsons River, in the remote, parched outback landscape of southwest Queensland.

That was also 11 months ago, on October 18, 2021.

The 27-year-old’s mysterious disappearance sparked a widespread search involving police from the Southwest District and the Homicide Squad with suspicions that Mr Rivers met with foul play.

Queensland police continue to investigate the suspicious disappearance of 27-year-old Jeremiah Rivers.

Mr Rivers had been returning to the Northern Territory with a group of men he had recently met while playing football in South Australia.

During their trip home they decided to hunt and camp in remote desert country near the SA border.

Police allege Mr Rivers and his associates entered Queensland from NSW without a valid Covid border pass and that may be why they did not report him missing sooner.

Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Blanchfield is heading up the probe with the help of homicide officers.

The country out there is extremely remote and harsh, and there is not a lot of water or “food out there, so we have grave concerns for (Jeremiah’s) safety,” he said.

“If he was hurt and unable to move, we should have been able to locate him by now.

“He is someone who has a fairly high level of skill in this kind of bush area, (but) for him to have wandered off … is very unusual.”

Read more here.

3. Andrzej Komarniczki

A coronial inquest in the disappearance of St George business man Andrzej Komarniczki heard he may have been killed after uncovering a syndicate of Melbourne businesses marketing kangaroo meat as beef.

At about 7.30pm on Saturday 12 January 1980, Mr Komarniczki left his St George home and travelled to an abattoir that he owned to check its refrigeration equipment and he has not been seen since.

His unlocked vehicle was found abandoned at a weir near the banks of the Balonne River some 300 metres from his business.

Despite a massive police and civilian search in the St George District no trace of Andrzej or his remains have been found.

At the time he was one of the wealthiest people in Southwest Queensland and operated the St George Kangaroo works and had business interests in three states.

More than 40 witnesses were called to a coronial inquest into his death which heard that Komarniczki owned a seven shot 32 calibre Browning automatic pistol that he always carried due to his well-known fears for his life.

It also heard that Mr Komarniczki was embroiled in a fraud involving exporter’s falsely marketing kangaroo meat as beef with witnesses telling that inquest the kangaroo meat was turning up in the fast food market or was being exported under false labels.

Police suspect Mr Komarniczki may have been abducted and murdered so they have offered a $250,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest along with immunity from prosecution for the first person to come forward.

Mick Mason arrives with family and friends at the court in Brisbane for the inquest into the death of his daughter Annette Mason. Picture: Tertius Pickard

4. Annette Mason

The family of Annette Mason are holding on to hope that a coronial inquest currently under way will shed light on how and why the young girl was murdered 33 years ago.

No-one has ever been charged with bludgeoning the 15-year-old Annette to death in home at 131 Anzac Avenue.

This is despite police previously having persons of interest from early into the investigation.

The case went cold but thanks to the determination of Annette’s family and the dedication of certain police officers involved in the investigation the case has not been allowed to be forgotten.

15-year-old Annette Jane Mason was found bludgeoned to death in her house in November 1989 after a night out with friends. The brutal, vicious and senseless murder on November 19, 1989 is Toowoomba's only active cold case murder investigation.

“Our family has been torn apart and we are all broken in our own way,” Annette’s sister Linda said.

“The injustice is a kick in the teeth year after year.

“Whoever did this will never pay enough for her life, however, it would be nice to have closure after all this time.”

The Queensland Police Service has offered a $250,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Read More here.

5. Lorraine Ruth Wilson and Wendy Joy Evans

THE murder of Sydney nurses Lorraine Ruth Wilson and Wendy Joy Evans in 1974 will forever be remembered as a dark chapter in Toowoomba’s history.

On June 25, 1976 their bodies were found in a clearing at Hoods Paddock, off Stevens Rd near Murphys Creek, about two years after they disappeared while hitchhiking from Brisbane to Goondiwindi.

Wendy Joy Evans.

Lorraine Ruth Wilson.

A coronial report found a gang of men connected through blood, marriage, booze, violence and a sordid appetite for sex were likely to be central to their deaths.

There was no attempt made to conceal the bodies and a large number of personal items, including a man dress ring, were found near the crime scene

However, police are yet to charge anyone over the women’s death and were criticised for their several instances of missed opportunities and sloppy work.

This included their failure to take statements from several people who had seen the women being bashed and forced into a car on the Toowoomba Range.

A $250,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest.

Read more here.

The wreckage of the Westlander lies where it came off the tracks near Roma Saturday November 7, 1987.

6. David Timothy Frank Smit

At 5.30pm on November 6, 1987 the Westlander departed from Roma and was heading west with 34 people on board.

One of those was 10-month old David Timothy Frank Smit.

Sadly the train derailed about 25km into its journey at the Bindango switching point and the resulting fire injured nine people and killed David.

A forensic investigation revealed the derailment was the result of someone tampering with the switching equipment but the culprit was never caught.

To this day a $50,000 reward stands for anyone with information about the offence.

It comes with the promise of protection from prosecutions as long as the informer was not responsible for the derailment.

Read more here.