Episode Details

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 In January 2026 the only charges ever laid in connection with her death were withdrawn.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All charges against the man named in this episode were withdrawn by the DPP on 28 January 2026.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Charges withdrawn, January 2026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

While some dramatic license is taken during the retelling of these stories, but you can be sure that these true crime stories are all based 100% on real events and facts.

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This podcast is researched, and written by the Brevity Studios team using AI tools, and is narrated in its entirety by - Ryan Wolf.