Detectives from the New South Wales homicide squad investigating the murder of Colleen Walker-Craig from Bowraville in 1990 have begun a two-day search for her remains.
Colleen was 16 when she was last seen in Bowraville in September 1990.
Her family reported her missing, and her weighted down clothes were later found in the Nambucca River.
Although Colleen’s body has never been found, the NSW coroner found she had died and had most likely been murdered. She was one of three Indigenous children killed over a five-month period in 1990.
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The remains of two of the children – Evelyn Greenup, four, who was Colleen’s cousin, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16 – were discovered within months.
The three alleged murders were originally investigated separately before being linked by the homicide squad.
Detectives returned to Bowraville a year ago to continue the search for Colleen.
On Friday, police said strike force investigators – with assistance from marine area command – would search in parts of the Nambucca River in Bowraville and Macksville.
The homicide squad commander, Det Supt Joe Doueihi, told reporters: “There may have been some gaps in the search of the river at the time, so police are back up there today and tomorrow to finalise another thorough search of the Nambucca River.”
A $1m reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Colleen’s murder remains in place, as well as for information leading to the location and recovery of her remains.
The focus on Saturday would shift to a section of the river located behind private property not accessible to the public.
Doueihi said police were meeting family members in Bowraville on Friday.
In October 2024, Colleen’s mother, Muriel Craig, urged the public to come forward with any information that could bring closure to her daughter’s disappearance.
“I want to know, I don’t want to leave this earth, not without knowing where she is,” she said. “I just want people who know things just to come forward; if you don’t, karma will get you anyway.”
A parliamentary inquiry into family responses to the murders in Bowraville recommended reviews of procedures and training on Aboriginal cultural awareness, as well as funding for memorials for the children in 2014.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
