In a significant breakthrough in one of Australia's most haunting cold cases, police have launched an intensive two-day search operation along the Nambucca River for the remains of Colleen Walker-Craig. The 16-year-old was one of three Indigenous children who vanished from the same small Bowraville street over a five-month period in 1990 and 1991.
Decades-Long Quest for Answers
The new search operation represents a major development in the investigation that has spanned over three decades. Specialist police divers and forensic teams are focusing their efforts on a specific section of the river near Bowraville on the NSW mid-north coast, following fresh information that came to light during recent investigative work.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty emphasised the importance of this operation, stating: "We are acting on new information that has provided us with specific areas to target. Our hope is that this search may finally provide answers to Colleen's family who have waited too long for closure."
The Bowraville Tragedy
The Bowraville murders case involves the disappearances of three Indigenous children:
- Colleen Walker-Craig, 16, last seen in September 1990
- Evelyn Greenup, 4, who vanished in October 1990
- Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16, who disappeared in February 1991
All three children lived on the same small street in the Bowraville Aboriginal mission. The case has been marked by multiple investigations, coronial inquests, and legal battles as families fought for justice.
Fresh Hope for Families
The current river search operation brings renewed hope to families who have campaigned tirelessly for justice. Community members and relatives have maintained that the three cases are connected, though previous legal proceedings have faced numerous challenges.
This intensive search operation demonstrates the NSW Police's ongoing commitment to solving this historic case, utilising modern forensic capabilities and investigative techniques that weren't available when the children first disappeared.
The two-day operation involves multiple police units working in coordination, including divers, forensic specialists, and local officers who have maintained relationships with the Bowraville community throughout the lengthy investigation.
