Chris Dawson’s family reveal Ivan Milat theory after murder charge

There’s a shock twist in the hunt to find what happened to Sydney mother of two Lyn Dawson who disappeared 36 years ago.

Just a week after her husband was charged with her murder, Chris Dawson’s family has told 7 News of their extraordinary theory that Lyn Dawson may have been another victim of Australia’s worst serial killer Ivan Milat.

Arrested last week, 70-year-old Chris Dawson has always maintained his innocence.

His family previously claimed his wife ran away in 1982, but now they’ve added a chilling, bombshell alternative.

“Milat… is alleged to have killed several women around the same time and in an area Lyn was seen,” Mr Dawson’s brother Peter said.

Serving seven life sentences, Milat’s victims were hitchhikers.

“[Lyn Dawson] didn’t drive,” he said.

Peter sent 7 News a list of missing women all named in coronial inquests as possible Milat victims, suggesting Lyn could be too.

Former Assistant Commissioner Clive Small, who led the Milat investigation, believes it’s an unlikely theory.

“I would suggest it’s very much next to zero,” he told 7 News.

He says Milat kept souvenirs from his victims, and there were none from Mrs Dawson. He added that and the killers other victims were picked up around Liverpool.

“It doesn’t fit and I know no suggestion that Dawson was in the Liverpool area or what she’d be doing there,” Mr Small added.

Mr Dawson is also compiling cases of missing women like Marian Rees and Janina Woljcik, discovered decades later to have been runaways.

He is being held at Silverwater prison awaiting a bail hearing on Friday, but his family is also worried about his well-being, saying has his cell light is on 24 hours a day, he has no pillow or cutlery for food as authorities are apparently worried about possible self-harm.

However his family says there is no chance of that as he intends to fight the charges and win.