5 min read
Colleen's mum wants to bring her baby home: 'I don't want to leave this earth without knowing where she is'
It's been 34 years since Colleen Walker-Craig, her cousin Evelyn Greenup, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux were murdered in the small northern NSW town of Bowraville. This week homicide detectives are renewing their appeal for information.
Published 22 October 2024 3:22pm
By Rudi Maxwell
Source: NITV
Image: Members of Colleen Walker-Craig's family, from left, aunt Julie Craig, cousin Tarra Craig, mum Muriel Walker-Craig, niece Tia Green, sister Rose Marie Walker, nephew Bevan Walker and niece Colleen Walker. (NITV: Rudi Maxwell)
Warning: this article includes the names and images of Aboriginal persons who have died. It also discusses distressing themes.
Muriel Walker-Craig just wants to bring her baby home.
On Thursday, September 13, 1990 - more than 34 years ago - 16-year-old Colleen Walker-Craig travelled from her home in Sawtell to go to a party in Bowraville.
Her mother never saw her again.
When Muriel went to report her daughter missing the police didn’t even take a statement.
So Muriel moved her entire family from Sawtell to Bowraville, including her son Mike, who had spina bifida, where they stayed together in one room in her cousin’s house.
“I stayed down there for three weeks, looking, trying to find out where she was and the police never done anything,” she told NITV.
“And then I had to bring Mike home because my house was equipped for a person in a wheelchair.
“I couldn't do it anymore. It was too much."
Detectives will spend the rest of this week in Grant’s Hall in Bowraville in the hope of uncovering fresh information about the murders of three Aboriginal children in the small northern NSW town more than three decades ago.
Colleen, her cousin Evelyn Greenup, 4, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16, were all killed during a five-month period from 1990 to 1991.
Evelyn and Clinton’s remains were found in nearby bushland in 1991, but Colleen's body has never been located.
Rebecca Stadhams, mum of Evelyn Greenup. Credit: NITV: Rudi Maxwell
Colleen's weighted-down clothes were found in the Nambucca River and the NSW coroner ruled she was most likely murdered.
Homicide Squad commander Danny Doherty said the police presence in Bowraville should let the community know detectives had not given up on finding who killed the children.
Evelyn Greenup, 4, and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16, were murdered in Bowraville in 1990 and 1991. Police are asking people who have information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
"Finding Colleen's remains is absolutely critical in helping us close this painful chapter and we are hopeful there are still people out there who have information that could point us in the right direction."
Colleen’s sister Rose remembers her younger sibling as a strong character.
“She was very loving and caring and she always put others first, especially our brother Mike,” Rose said.
“She helped Mum a lot at home with him and she always made sure all the younger kids were looked after - that's how she was brought up.”
There’s a memorial to Colleen, in a little park, behind the dunes that edge the beach at Sawtell.
Her family chose that place because Colleen loved it.
“We’d get oysters or go fishing,” Rose said.
“Or walk up to the rockpool,” Muriel said, adding there was a group of local kids who’d all hang out together.
“We’d push Mike down here in his wheelchair and there was a little ramp down there,” Rose said.
“So we’d just be here all day.
“There used to be a fish and chip shop just up there, we’d get some hot chips, a loaf of bread and some devon, that was our thing.”
Rose remembers the Bowraville Mission being a safe place, where everyone would just leave their doors unlocked.
“We’d all be in and out of everyone’s house – and then all that happened with the three kids and it hasn’t been the same since.”
Evelyn Greenup, 4, disappeared after being put to bed at her grandmother’s Bowraville home on Thursday, October 4, 1990.
Her remains were found in bushland near Congarinni Road on Saturday 27 April 1991.
An autopsy found Evelyn had a skull injury consistent with forceful penetration by a sharp instrument, but stopped short of declaring that was the definitive cause of death.
Thomas Duroux, Clinton Speedy-Duroux's dad. Credit: NITV: Rudi Maxwell
His remains were located in bushland near Congarinni Road on Monday, February 18, 1991.
The murders of the three children were originally investigated separately before being linked by Strike Force Ancud detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad Unsolved Homicide Team.
The NSW government in 2018 unsuccessfully argued in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal there was fresh and compelling evidence - related to the disappearance of Colleen - that justified overturning the two acquittals and launching a fresh, single trial on three murder charges.
The High Court refused to grant special leave to the NSW government to appeal the decision.
Colleen Walker-Craig was 16 when she disappeared from Bowraville in 1990. Police are asking people who have information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
People can speak with the detectives in Bowraville or, if they need more discretion, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Muriel is begging anyone who knows anything to please come forward.
“It would mean the world to our extended family to be able to bring Colleen home,” she said.
“It would give us peace.
“And I think it would put that piece missing in my heart back.”
