Pauline Sowry was 49 when she had lunch with her son at a Warrawong pub in December 1993. Her family never saw her again. A coroner found she had died but could not say how, when or where. Thirty years later a witness led police into bushland at Figtree, where they dug up a blouse she had stitched herself. In January 2026 the only charges ever laid in connection with her death were withdrawn. Nobody has ever been convicted. Police say there are people in the Illawarra who know exactly what happened.
IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING
A $500,000 reward remains open for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Crime Stoppers — 1800 333 000 — anonymous
Wollongong Police — (02) 4226 7899
Police especially want to hear about two things:
A cream-coloured, button-down, long-sleeved blouse with a hand-stitched design in coloured cotton, believed added by Pauline herself. Images were released by NSW Police in December 2024.
A white 1968-model Holden HK Kingswood sedan, in pristine condition, reportedly seen carrying Pauline south of Wollongong after she disappeared.
A NOTE ON SOURCING
All charges against the man named in this episode were withdrawn by the DPP on 28 January 2026. No court has ever made a finding against him, he has never been convicted of any offence connected to Pauline's death, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Nobody has ever been charged with her murder.
Where this episode describes covert police recordings, those descriptions come from what the Crown told a bail hearing they contained, as reported by one journalist present in court. We have not heard the recordings and neither has anyone outside that courtroom, so they are described rather than quoted. The defence disputed their accuracy and context. None of it was tested at trial.
Strike Force Anthea remains open.
SOURCES
NSW Police — reward appeal and case summary
police.nsw.gov.au/can_you_help_us/rewards/500000_reward/disappearance_of_pauline_sowry
The Illawarra Mercury is the only outlet that covered the court proceedings in this case, and the reason it is still being talked about.
Jason Lawrence on his mother — who Pauline actually was. Read this one.
illawarramercury.com.au/story/8707899
Clothing unearthed at Figtree, December 2024
illawarramercury.com.au/story/8841308
Charges withdrawn, January 2026
illawarramercury.com.au/story/9162611
SUPPORT
This episode discusses suicide.
Lifeline (AU) 13 11 14 · Beyond Blue (AU) 1300 22 4636 · New Zealand: free call or text 1737
","author_name":"Brevity Studios"}