Tasmania Police to call off dig in Lucille Butterworth search

A TWO-week dig for clues seems unlikely to shed light on Tasmania’s oldest cold case — the disappearance of Lucille Butterworth 46 years ago.

PATRICK BILLINGS Police Reporter

less than 2 min read

July 21, 2015 - 12:00AM

Missing person Lucille Gay Butterworth. P/

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A TWO-week dig for clues seems unlikely to shed light on Tasmania’s oldest cold case — the disappearance of Lucille Butterworth 46 years ago.

Police are expected to end their excavation of the search site near Granton today.

No evidence had been unearthed as of yesterday.

The dig was sparked by information about the 20-year-old’s suspected murder, which will be the subject of an inquest next month.

Inspector David Plumpton, of Hobart uniform police, said the lack of new evidence was frustrating.

Missing person Lucille Gay Butterworth.

“It’s absolutely disappointing for the family,” Insp Plumpton said.

Forensic officers had been searching for Miss Butterworth’s remains along with jewellery, clothes and other belongings.

Police had considered using a ground-penetrating radar which was used to find the remains of slain teen Daniel Morcombe in Queensland.

The machine was brought to Tasmania in 2012 as police searched for missing teenager Eve Askew.

But a geophysicist advised the machine would not reveal anything in this instance and police instead conducted electromagnetic surveys of the site.

“People would say it’s a slim chance but the family would jump at that chance,” Insp Plumpton said.

Persons of interest in the disappearance are expected to be called to the inquest which starts on August 31.

Miss Butterworth was last seen on August 25, 1969, waiting for a bus at Claremont.