UPDATED Wednesday, December 5, 2018. 5pm
Just before 8am today (Wednesday 5 December 2018), a 70-year-old Coolum man was arrested, in relation to the 1982 disappearance of Northern Beaches wife and mother, Lynette Joy Dawson.
Detectives from the Queensland Police Service’s Homicide Squad in the presence of Strive Force Scriven investigators, mad the arrest at Biggera Waters, on the Gold Coast, in Queensland.
The man, Lynette Dawson’s husband Christopher Dawson, has been charged with an arrest warrant and he appeared at Southport Magistrates Court today, where NSW detectives applied for and were granted his extradition to Sydney.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, praised the work of Strike Force Scriven investigators.
‘A team of dedicated detectives has been investigating this case over the past three years,’ said Det Supt Cook.
‘The resolve of the Unsolved Homicide Unit detectives shows that they will continue to search for the truth, no matter how many years may pass.’
Further information will be available when it comes to hand.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018. 10.48am
Police will address the media within the hour following the arrest of a man in Queensland in relation to the 1982 disappearance of Northern Beaches wife and mother, Lynette Joy Dawson.
Lynette Joy Dawson, a 33-year-old mother-of-two, went missing on or around Saturday, 9 January 1982.
While at home with her husband on the evening of Friday, 8 January 1982, Lynette Dawson phoned her mother. After chatting for a while, mother and daughter agreed to meet for lunch at Northbridge Baths the following day (9 January 1982). However, Lynette never arrived.
She was officially reported missing on 18 February 1982 by her husband, Christopher Dawson.
In January 2013, the NSW Government announced that a $200,000 reward would be offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the disappearance and presumed murder of a woman last seen in January 1982.
At the time, Detective Sergeant Damian Loone from the Sydney City Local Area Command was leading the investigation into Mrs Dawson’s disappearance, and believed there were people who knew what happened to her.
In 2015, detectives from the Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Unit established Strike Force Scriven to re-investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and suspected murder.
Following extensive investigations, Strike Force Scriven detectives requested the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) review their brief of evidence in April 2018.
Earlier this week, the ODPP provided advice to police, and following further inquiries, detectives applied for an arrest warrant before travelling to Queensland.
Just before 8am today (Wednesday 5 December 2018), a 70-year-old Coolum man was arrested by detectives from the Queensland Police Service’s Homicide Squad in the presence of Strive Force Scriven investigators at Biggera Waters, on the Gold Coast, in Queensland.
NSW detectives will apply for his extradition at his first court appearance.
Lynette Dawson’s family has been advised of today’s arrest and have requested privacy at this time.
