A man has been charged over the suspicious disappearance of a mother two years after a probe in the cold case reopened.
Pauline Sowry, 49, went missing in December 1993 from Wollongong, south of Sydney. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
An inquest in 2008 found she had died, despite an unconfirmed sighting in 1994.
NSW Police strike force Anthea was formed in 2022 to re-examine the circumstances of the case.
Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a Wollongong man, 64, at a unit in Gywnneville on Thursday morning.
Footage showed officers leading a man with a long, grey ponytail from the unit to the back of a police car.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station, where charged with accessory after the fact to murder and conceal serious indictable offence.
The man was refused bail and will appear in Wollongong Local Court on Friday.
Pauline Sowry, who also went by her married name Pauline Lawrence (pictured with her son Jason), went missing in December 1993 from Wollongong
NSW Police arrested a 64-year-old Wollongong man on Thursday following a re-opening of Ms Sowry’s case in recent years
Local officers conducted three searches as part of their investigation in 2023 and 2024 and found items of clothing belonging to Ms Sowry
The breakthrough has been a long time coming for Ms Sowry’s family.
‘We have waited more than 30 years to hear today’s news,’ her son Jason Lawrence said in a statement shared by police.
‘We miss her every day and her disappearance has taken a huge toll on myself and our entire family.
‘We thank the police officers for never giving up hope and we look forward to the outcome of this investigation.’
Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar said police worked tirelessly to close the case.
The NSW government offered a $500,000 reward in March 2024 for any information about Ms Sowry’s disappearance.
Local officers conducted three searches as part of their investigation in 2023 and 2024 and found items of clothing belonging to Ms Sowry, who also went by her married name Pauline Lawrence.
Those items included a cream button-down long sleeve blouse with a coloured stitching and black pants.
An inquest found Ms Sowry (pictured) had died, despite an unconfirmed sighting in 1994
Ms Sowry’s son, Jason Lawrence (pictured together), said: ‘We miss her every day and her disappearance has taken a huge toll on myself and our entire family’
A key area of interest was bushland in Figtree, south of Wollongong.
In May 2024, police called on the public to share information about a ‘pristine’ white 1968 Holden HK Kingswood sedan which detectives believed Ms Sowry may have travelled in.
‘During last year’s renewed appeal for information, I made a promise that the NSW Police would leave no stone unturned to seek a resolution,’ Assistant Commissioner Cassar said.
‘The persistence and effort by my officers has resulted in today’s arrest.
‘I commend the tireless commitment of our officers in finding answers for Pauline’s family and they continue to work hard to bring this matter before the courts.’
He added Ms Sowry’s disappearance ‘is still subject to an investigation’.
‘Even from whatever transpires from today’s interview (with the man), I would expect there will be continued investigations until we can locate Pauline, and to see if there are any other suspects or pieces of evidence we may need to locate,’ he said.
‘It’s an open investigation.’
Items seized during Thursday’s arrest will under forensic testing.
The man (pictured during the arrest) was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and conceal serious indictable offence
Mr Cassar confirmed the man arrested was a ‘significant person who can certainly assist us with this inquiry’ and was a ‘person of interest’ during investigations.
‘The reason for his arrest is specifically in relation to the suspected disappearance of Pauline,’ he said.
‘There is a confirmed connection between this individual and Pauline.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
