Credit:NSW Police
Stephen Lapthorne and girlfriend Michelle Pope left his family home in Sydney’s upper north shore to make the 20-kilometre trip to Berowra in 1978, but they never arrived.
Despite extensive searches, neither their car nor their bodies have been found.
“Stephen and Michelle were two amazingly normal young adults with their whole lives ahead of them,” Mr Lapthorne’s sister, Kerrie Coy, said. “Stephen had a secure job that he took a lot of satisfaction in. He had a very close group of mates who all looked out for each other.
“Michelle was a ray of sunshine and just loved by all that knew her.”
They jumped into his lime green 1977 Bedford CF van and hit the road.
But Michelle never made it home, and Stephen didn t get to the snow. After August 25, 1978, they were never seen again.
In 2005 an inquest found the pair died, but how or when remains a mystery to this day.
In January of this year, the case was referred to the State Crime Command s Homicide Squad, and a formal review was conducted.
A re-investigation was launched which involved a two-day search in the Ku-Ring-Gai National Park in June for vehicle parts after a tip-off.
These parts were found but were not linked to the couple.
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Police lay charges after Newcastle fatal shooting – Homicide Squad
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man with murder following an investigation into the fatal shooting of another man at Newcastle last month.
About 12.45pm on Thursday 22 July 2021, emergency services were called to a unit at Darby St, Cooks Hill, following reports of shots fired.
Upon arrival, police located a 40-year-old man inside the unit with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.
The man has been formally identified as Wesley ‘Wes’ Prentice from Rutherford.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced inquiries, before detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Hibbard.
A man has been charged with murder, following a fatal shooting at Cooks Hill last month.
Emergency crews were called to a Darby Street unit just before 1pm on July 22, after nearby residents reported hearing gunshots.
Inside the unit, they found a 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his chest, who was in cardiac arrest.
Paramedics tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.
After extensive investigations from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, the 35-year-old was arrested near a caravan park at Bonny Hills – near Port Macquarie – just before 6pm on August 1.
During a search of the caravan, officers say they found a loaded firearm and cash.