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50 Years Later: Police Failures Haunt Cold Case Families
11 Jun
Summary
- Families shared decades of pain over unsolved disappearances.
- A toddler vanished from a beach in 1970, a case still unsolved.
- Inquiry examines potential links to notorious serial killer Ivan Milat.
Families impacted by unsolved disappearances shared their enduring pain at a NSW parliamentary inquiry, highlighting over 50 years of alleged police failures. Ricki Nash testified about his sister Cheryl, who vanished from Wollongong's Fairy Meadow beach in January 1970 at age three. Despite a suspect being charged decades later, the case collapsed, leaving the family without answers.
Kay Docherty's twin brother, Kevin, also spoke, revealing his parents died heartbroken after Kay, 15, disappeared near Wollongong in 1979. He described how initial police handling, dismissing her as a runaway, hindered the search. Both cases, along with Keren Rowland's disappearance in 1971, are being scrutinized for potential connections to serial killer Ivan Milat.
Forensic criminologist Dr. Xanthe Weston provided insights into Milat's psychology, suggesting his killings escalated when he lost personal control. The inquiry continues over the coming months, aiming to bring closure to families who have suffered through decades of "ignorance, poor leadership, parochialism and arrogance."
