Clothing Found in Bushland Could Solve 30-Year Mystery of Missing Wollongong Woman
Clothing discovered in bushland may provide vital clues in the 30-year-old case of missing Wollongong woman Pauline Sowry, prompting renewed police interest.
Wollongong, Australia, Pauline Sowry, Missing Person, Crime, Investigation
They discovered black pants and a cream blouse while searching the Illawarra escarpment at Figtree. This is part of the ongoing investigation into Pauline Sowry’s disappearance.
Pauline, who was also known as Pauline Lawrence, was last seen in December 1993 when she was 49 years old. Her family hasn’t heard from her since, and a coronial inquest in 2008 suggested she likely died after an unconfirmed sighting in 1994.
In 2022, police reopened the case with Strike Force Anthea. They believe Pauline’s recent divorce and some money she received might have played a role in her disappearance.
While they haven’t confirmed if the clothing belonged to her, they noted that she was known for altering her clothes. The items have been examined, but due to weather exposure, they haven’t found any DNA or blood evidence yet.
Police are hoping to jog someone’s memory by releasing images of the clothing. They want to know how these items ended up in that location and if anyone saw Pauline wearing them.
Earlier this year, a $500,000 reward was announced for information leading to an arrest in the case. This led to multiple searches of the bushland, and police are open to conducting more searches as they continue their investigation.
Pauline’s son, Jason, is hopeful that this discovery will bring some answers. He expressed the family’s desire to know what happened to his mother, especially as they approach another holiday season without her.
In May, police also asked for information about a white 1968 Holden HK Kingswood sedan that Pauline might have been in around the time she disappeared. Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.