Bowraville murders: Police and family plead for information on 36th anniversary of triple murder

WARNING: This story references Indigenous Australians who have died.

The families of three murdered children have called on anyone with information about their deaths to come forward 36 years after they were killed.

The cold case is known as the Bowraville murders after the regional NSW Aboriginal Mission where all three victims lived before they vanished between September 13, 1990, and January 31, 1991.

Colleen Walker-Craig, 16, was the first of the three who disappeared sometime between September 13 and 15.

Her family reported her missing but the only trace of her was her clothes weighed down in the Nambucca River.

While her body has never been found, a coroner determined she had most likely been murdered.

Just weeks later, on October 4, Colleen’s four-year-old cousin Evelyn Greenup vanished after being put to bed at her grandmother’s home.

Unlike Colleen, Evelyn’s remains were tragically found months later along Congarinni Rd on April 27, 1991.

The discovery of her remains followed 16-year-old Clinton Speedy-Duroux disappearing on January 31 and his body being found on February 18.

Police initially investigated the murders as separate incidents before the cases were unified and sent to NSW Police’s Unsolved Homicide Team.

A man was charged with two of the murders on numerous occasions but was later acquitted by the courts.

A $1 million reward for any information that can solve any of the cases has been in place for a number of years and 36 years later, police have re-issued that appeal with the support of the three victims’ families.

Mother pleads to ‘think about my little girl’

Evelyn’s mother Rebecca Stadhams issued a heartbreaking statement as the anniversary of her first daughter’s disappearance nears.

“Evelyn was only four years old when she was taken from us in 1990. Her murder has remained unsolved, and for more than three decades, our family has lived with the pain of not knowing who was responsible and why this happened to our little girl,” Stadhams said.

“But before Evelyn became known as an unsolved murder victim, she was a little girl who was deeply loved.

“She was my first child, and I remember her as a quiet and gentle soul. Evelyn hardly spoke. Instead, she had her own little way of letting us know what she wanted. She would tug on our clothes and point to what she wanted.

“She loved going for walks, and we would often hide our shoes because as soon as Evelyn saw them, she thought we were going too.

“It’s such a simple memory, but it’s one I will always treasure.

“There is no getting over the loss of a child. Time does not make you forget. The years may pass, but Evelyn is still my first baby. She is still my little girl, and she will always be part of our family.”

She pleaded with information to “think about my little girl” and come forward to help solve the cold case.

“My little girl deserved to grow up. She deserved a life. She deserves justice,” Stadhams said.

Brother’s almost lifelong suffering

Colleen’s brother, Lucas Craig, said their family was hoping to finally bring Colleen home after 36 years.

“It’s very emotional every time something comes up like this, Colleen’s anniversary was yesterday, (and) like my mum said, it’s been 36 years — 36 years is too long,” he said.

Craig said the government and detectives were too late to take control of the case, saying the “first 48 hours is the most critical of someone going missing”.

He said the 36th anniversary of her disappearance meant he’d now spent a third of his life asking where she could be.

“In regards to evidence and information, 36 years is a long time to hold information,” Craig said.

“If you are scared to bring the information forward or to have anything, you know, like the detective said, there is $1 million reward.

“(And) if not think about the families, how long we’ve been suffering for this.

“We can’t move forward until we bring her home and have answers. It’s like it happened yesterday.”

Detectives from the Unsolved Homicide unit are at Phillip Hughes Pavilion on Dudley Street in Macksville, about 10km southeast of Bowraville, from 9am-4pm from Monday to Friday to speak with anyone who may have information.

“This outreach is about creating opportunities for community members to speak directly with investigators. If you know something — whether you saw something, heard something, or were told something — now is the time to come forward,” Homicide Squad Commander and Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said.

“These murders have had a profound and lasting impact on the families and the Bowraville community. Time does not diminish the seriousness of these crimes, nor our determination to identify those responsible.

“For more than three decades, these families have lived without answers. They deserve clarity, and they deserve justice. We are asking the community to help us deliver that.”

Anyone else who can’t reach detectives has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.