The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are currently zoning in on ‘cold case’ missing persons. Here we highlight those 11 people with open cases ranging from 1982 to 2022.
MANLY
Kenneth Walter Hanes
Kenneth went missing on 22 September 2020, he was last seen on the ferry between Manly and Circular Quay.
The 77-year-old left his home at Acacia Gardens that morning, caught a bus to Blacktown and then a train to Central Station. Opal records and CCTV footage showed Kenneth embarking on the ferry at Manly but did not disembark at Circular Quay.
Police told the family that he had most likely gone missing in the harbour. They launched a two-day land search but Kenneth wasn’t found.
Bruce David Robinson
Bruce is a 72-year-old male last seen on a Manly Ferry between Manly and Circular Quay at 11:23 pm on 27 October 2022.
He was last seen leaving his Allambie home at 8 pm that night, further inquiries by police show Bruce used a taxi to visit an unknown location in the Manly area at 9.45 pm.
A coroner’s inquest from 23 January 2024 declares Bruce deceased in the waters of Sydney Harbour near Mosman, however it is still listed as a missing person’s case by the AFP, which is why he is included in this list.
BALGOWLAH
Derek Forrest
Derek Forrest, now 64, was last seen leaving his home address in Balgowlah, NSW on the 7th of August 1992 with the intention of attending a licensed premises.
He did not return home that evening and his vehicle was later located parked and secured in Dover Heights. He has not been in contact with family or friends since this time and grave concerns are held for his welfare.
He is described as having blonde hair, and blue eyes and is 190 cm tall with a thin build.
SOUTH CURL CURL
Glen Sanderson
Glen is an English tourist who went missing while swimming alone at South Curl Curl on 17 October 2015. He was last seen entering the water for a swim, while a friend was nearby on the beach preparing fishing equipment.
The now 39-year-old had been in Australia for a week before he went missing. He has not been in contact with friends and family and has not returned to the UK.
He is described as having ginger hair, a medium build with a fair complexion and stands 180cm tall.
COLLAROY PLATEAU
Peter Millett
Peter, 56, was reported missing by his family on 26 August 2013. Police had arrived at his residence on Idaline Street in Collaroy Plateau a day earlier to find the two front windows smashed with no sign of him.
The local Mental Health Crisis Team confirmed that Peter suffered from schizophrenia. His family said he often walked around Collaroy, was well-known in the area and his disappearance was completely out of character.
A coroner’s inquest in 2016 pronounced Peter dead on 27 August 2013, the cause and place of death was unable to be determined.
ELANORA HEIGHTS
Jeffrey Hines
Jeffrey, now 58, was last seen at a petrol station in Cromer on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. His vehicle was later located at Blue Fish Point in Manly on 18 September 1984 – he has not been seen since.
He is described as having blue eyes, fair hair, medium build and 172 cm tall.
MONA VALE
Lynette Dawson
Lynette Dawson, a 33-year-old mother-of-two, was last seen by her husband on 9 January 1982.
While at home with her husband on the evening of Friday 8 January 1982, Lynette Dawson phoned her mother. After chatting for a while, mother and daughter agreed to meet for lunch at Northbridge Baths the following day (9 January 1982).
The following morning Lynette’s husband drove her to a Mona Vale bus stop. She indicated her intentions of going shopping in Chatswood and later meeting up with family, however, she has not been seen since.
A coroner’s inquest determined Lynette had been murdered. Her husband, Chris Dawson, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to 24 years in prison on 30 August 2022. However, her case remains listed with the AFP.
Passy Reyes
Passy Reyes was last seen in the early hours of 18 July 2001. The now 41-year-old’s clothes were located at Mona Vale Beach and she has not been seen or contacted by family or friends since.
Passy was studying for her HSC at the time and was devoted to her major art project. Her family believes the pressure of school was the main cause for her to run away from their home at 4:50 am.
Despite several possible sightings of Passy, there has been no confirmed contact. The family believe that Passy’s disappearance is out of character.
At the time of her disappearance, Passy was described as having brown hair, and brown eyes and is 156cm tall with a thin build.
Errol Snyman
Errol Snyman was last seen at his home address in Mona Vale on 23 July 1998 by his neighbour.
The now 80-year-old left his glasses and mobile phone at his home and has not been in contact with family or friends since this time.
At the time of his disappearance, Errol was described as having brown hair, and brown eyes, and stood at 165 cm with a medium build.
AVALON
Sana Salman
Sana Salman, now 36, was last seen at North Scenic Drive, Manly, about 1 pm on 1 September 2022. She was due to attend a medical appointment in the area but never arrived. Enquiries show that Sana’s mobile phone has not been used since 12:34 pm on that day.
CCTV captured Sana walking eastbound past 29 North Head Scenic Drive (heading to North Head) at 1 pm on the day she went missing. There have been no further sightings.
Sana is described as being of Indian/Sub-continental appearance, about 157cm tall, of medium build, with dark hair and brown eyes.
David Cook
David Cossington Cook, now 66, was last seen cycling towards Avalon with his fishing gear which was later located at a known rock fishing platform called “St Michael’s Cave” on 22 August 1990.
David did not return home and has not been in contact with family or friends since, nor has he made any bank transactions.
At the time of his disappearance, David was described as having brown hair, blue eyes and a medium build.
The Missing Persons Week campaign has been running since 1998 to raise awareness of the significant issues surrounding missing persons.
There are currently 56,000 missing persons reported to police in Australia. 2,500 people are listed as a long-term missing person – which is someone missing for more than three months.
Each Missing Persons Week has a theme, starting with the 1982 disappearance of Tony Jones campaign in 1997/98 dubbed ‘Help Unravel the mystery’. This year’s theme is ‘Always Searching’ and focuses on the disappearance of eight missing women around Australia.
Here are the missing women below.
Laura Haworth – missing since January 2008, last seen in Queanbeyan, NSW.
Anne Marie Jeffery – missing since August 2020, last seen in Lake Arragan, NSW.
Angie Lee Fuller – missing since January 2023, last seen in Alice Springs, NT.
Tanya Buckland – missing since August 2013, last seen in Warwick, Queensland.
Susan Goodwin – missing since July 2002, last seen in Port Lincolm, SA.
Nancy Grunwaldt – missing since March, 1993, last seen in Scamander, Tasmania.
Julie Garciacelay – missing since July, 1975, last seen in North Melbourne, Victoria.
Chantelle McDougal – missing since July, 2007, last seen in Nannup, WA.
If you have any information about a case, you can anonymously share information to Crime Stoppers at https://crimestoppers.com.au/ or freecall 1800 333 000.
