Disappearance of Trudie Adams

Trudie Adams disappeared from Newport Surf Life Saving Club, New South Wales, Australia in the early hours of 25 June 1978, after attending a dance. She left the dance early after hitchhiking, in which she entered a Holden panel van on Barrenjoey Road, and has not been seen since. Her disappearance sparked extensive national media attention and a $250,000 reward.

Investigation

Adams' parents and boyfriend reported her missing on 25 June 1978 after she failed to arrive home from the dance.^[1] Although police initially believed that the car she entered was a green Kombi van, her boyfriend Steven Norris, stated that he saw her enter a light-coloured panel van.^[2] Police who investigated the case believed that Adams' disappearance is linked to 14 known violent sexual assaults that occurred in the Northern Beaches between 1971 and 1978.^[3]

Inquest and reward

In 2011, an inquest was held in order to further investigate the disappearance of Adams, which resulted in the Coronor declaring that Adams died of "homicide or misadventure."^[4]

In 2008, the New South Wales Government posted a $250,000 reward for information which would lead to the conviction of her murderer(s).^[5]

References