Police have officially made an arrest in the three-decade-long cold case of missing Illawara mother Pauline Sowry.
Pauline — who is also known by her married name, Pauline Lawrence — was last seen in the northern suburbs of Wollongong in December 1993. She was 49 years old at the time of her disappearance.
But despite investigations into her whereabouts, the mother was never found. In 2008, a coroner’s report found that Pauline had died, most likely after an unconfirmed sighting in 1994.
However, in 2022, Pauline’s case was reopened with NSW Police establishing Strike Force Anthea in an effort to find out what happened to the Illawara mother.
On Thursday, May 29 2025, 32 years after she went missing, police have confirmed that a 64-year-old man has been arrested in relation to Pauline’s case.
According to NSW Police, the arrest took place at 8.30am on Thursday, May 29 2025, at a unit in Murphy’s Avenue, Gywneville. The man currently remains in custody at Wollongong Police Station.
“During last year’s renewed appeal for information, I made a promise that the NSW Police would leave no stone unturned to seek a resolution, and the persistence and effort by my officers has resulted in today’s arrest,” Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM said in regards to the massive breakthrough.
“I commend the tireless commitment of our officers in finding answers for Pauline’s family and they continue to work hard to bring this matter before the courts.”
Jason Lawrence, Pauline’s son, has also celebrated the arrest, stating that the family has “waited more than 30 years to hear today’s news”.
“We welcome today’s news that a person has been arrested in relation to the suspicious disappearance of our beloved mum,” he said.
“We miss her every day and her disappearance has taken a huge toll on myself and our entire family.
“We thank the police officers for never giving up hope, and we look forward to the outcome of this investigation.”
In March 2024, both the state government and NSW Police offered a $500,000 reward for any information surrounding her disappearance.
Officers involved in the case conducted a total of three searches — March and May of 2023, and October 2024 — in the Illawarra escarpment at Figtree.
During their search of the area, officers found items of clothing that belonged to Pauline.
Image source: 9News.
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