Who is Keren Rowland and why is she significant?

Keren Rowland was a 20-year-old woman who disappeared in Canberra in 1971 and whose remains were later found; a detective suspects she was Ivan Milat's first victim.

What is the NSW inquiry into unsolved murders?

It's a parliamentary inquiry calling for submissions on unsolved murders and missing persons cases in NSW between 1965 and 2010, examining potential links to Ivan Milat and justice system flaws.

Was Ivan Milat suspected in Keren Rowland's disappearance earlier?

Yes, Ivan Milat was reportedly identified as a suspect in the 1971 disappearance of Keren Rowland, though this was not publicly recorded at the time.

Home / Crime and Justice / Detective Suspects Milat's First Victim in 1971 Cold Case

Detective Suspects Milat's First Victim in 1971 Cold Case

30 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Retired detective believes Keren Rowland was Milat's first victim.
NSW inquiry seeks submissions on unsolved murders and Milat's potential victims.
Rowland disappeared in 1971; her remains found months later.

Detective Suspects Milat's First Victim in 1971 Cold Case

A retired detective, Hugh Hughes, believes Keren Rowland, who disappeared from Canberra in 1971, was serial killer Ivan Milat's first victim. Rowland, then 20 and pregnant, vanished on the night of the Royal Canberra Show, her car later found abandoned and her remains discovered three months later. Hughes has dedicated decades to investigating her case, suspecting Milat, who was jailed for life in 1994 for the murders of seven backpackers.

A new NSW parliamentary inquiry into unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases, spanning 1965 to 2010, has been established. Initiated by MLC Jeremy Buckingham, the inquiry seeks public submissions and will examine potential miscarriages of justice. Buckingham suggests Milat may have been involved in many more than the 80 murders, citing a resemblance between Milat and an identikit from the Wanda Beach murders.