New clue 30 years after mum vanished

There has been a development in the 1993 disappearance of Wollongong mother Pauline Sowry, as police look for information on a specific Holden.

Ms Sowry, also known by her married name Pauline Lawrence, went missing from Wollongong’s northern suburbs in December 1993 when she was 49 years old.

There was an unconfirmed sighting in 1994, but in 2008 a coronial inquest found Ms Sowry had died.

Police and the NSW Government put up a $500,000 reward in March 2024, which has led police’s attention to a ‘pristine’ white 1968 Holden HK Kingswood sedan.

“As a result of the appeal, police have received information that Pauline was sighted south of Wollongong in a vehicle similar to the image released today,” police say in a statement released Monday.

“That vehicle is described as a white 1968-model Holden HK Kingswood sedan, which was said to be in ‘pristine’ condition.”

Anyone who recognises the vehicle, or knows someone who owned a matching one at the time of Pauline’s disappearance, is urged to contact Wollongong Police or Crime Stoppers.

NSW Police set up a taskforce in 2022 to re-examine the circumstances of Ms Sowry’s disappearance.

Earlier this year the $500,000 reward was announced, for information that led to a conviction in the case. Ms Sowry’s body has never been found and no one has ever been charged.

“We know that, unfortunately … immediately before her disappearance, she was caught up

with the wrong crowd,” Superintendent Darren Brand said in March, as the reward was announced.

“Investigators strongly suspect that those people either know or are responsible for Pauline’s disappearance.”

The missing woman’s son, Jason Lawrence, suspects the same.

“I believe someone has taken advantage of her kindness and vulnerability, so my family and I plead with the public to come forward with any information or knowledge of her disappearance,” he told media earlier this year.