On October 28, 2021, 28-year-old Kathleen Riethmuller vanished without a trace from Neutral Bay, New South Wales.
Kathleen was last seen on CCTV walking eastbound on Falcon Street around 2:46 PM that fateful day.
She was wearing a distinctive blue denim dress.
Her sudden disappearance has sparked widespread concern among her family and friends, leading to ongoing investigations by local authorities.
Who Was Kathleen Riethmuller?
Kathleen, originally from Brisbane, had moved to Sydney, where she had been living since May 2021.
She was known for her slim build, brown hair, and fair complexion.
Kathleen graduated from Brisbane Girls Grammar School and was known for her caring nature and adventurous spirit.
In the weeks leading up to her disappearance, Kathleen was reported to have frequented several locations in Sydney.
This included a unit on King Street and a backpacker’s hostel on Sir John Young Crescent in Woolloomooloo.
Also, Just days before her disappearance, she had listed various personal items for sale on Gumtree, indicating a potential change of environment.
This behavior raised concerns among her loved ones because it indicated she might have been considering a major life change.
The Day She Vanished
On the morning of October 28, 2021, Kathleen checked into the Elephant Backpacker hostel in Woolloomooloo.
Reports from the hostel manager revealed that she appeared "jittery and twitchy," which stood out to the staff.
The manager also said that Kathleen never made it to her room after checking in.
Instead, she left the hostel shortly after arriving, and that was the last time the manager saw her.
At approximately 11:40 AM, she was captured on security cameras at a Bunnings store on Reserve Road, Artarmon.
After this sighting, her trail went cold.
Few hours later, a backpack containing her ID, bank cards, and cash—were discovered by a member of the public on Centennial Avenue in Lane Cove.
There was also a receipt for two 50cm coils of rope, purchased from Bunnings, inside the backpack.
The discovery of her personal items heightened concerns for her safety.
Her family eventually reported her missing, leading to an immediate search effort.
The Ongoing Investigation: A Community's Hope
Following Kathleen’s disappearance, the North Shore Police Area Command launched an intensive investigation.
They expressed serious concerns for her welfare.
Investigations suggested that Kathleen may have traveled to Melbourne in search of job opportunities.
However, the absence of any contact with her family has heightened concerns about her safety.
Initially, authorities believed Kathleen’s case involved self-harm.
However, their perspective shifted after discovering old diary entries and establishing a timeline of her disappearance.
Early in the investigation, police spoke to Kathleen’s mother.
She revealed that her daughter had felt isolated during Sydney’s four-month lockdown and had recently lost her job as a data scientist.
Fearing the worst, officers rushed to search the nearby bushland around her last known location.
However, the search yielded no results.
A search of her home revealed expired and rotting food, suggesting she hadn’t stayed there for a while.
Around 11 a.m. in the day of her disappearance, she withdrew $2,200 from an ATM in Woolloomooloo, nearly her entire savings.
Shortly afterward, at 11:40 a.m., she was seen on CCTV purchasing two lengths of rope at a Bunnings store in Artarmon, located in Sydney’s north.
An hour later, Kathleen was spotted at a McDonald’s in Parramatta, in the western suburbs.
She still had her backpack at that time.
But somehow, she made her way back to Sydney’s northern suburbs.
A man later revealed that he had given her a ride in Riverview, near Lane Cove, around 2:30 p.m.
He reported that she was behaving erratically and had even run through the street before accepting his offer for a lift.
Strangely, she jumped out of his car, ran across four lanes of traffic, and disappeared into the bush.
However, she later rejoined him in his car, and he dropped her off at a petrol station in North Sydney.
This was her last known location.
Kathleen’s erratic behavior and strange movements led police to believe that she intended to disappear and start a new life under a false identity.
Kathleen’s diary entries mentioned her desire to "go off the grid," cover her tracks, and start fresh.
Detective Sergeant Franklin later revealed that her journal also included notes about closing bank accounts, using cash, and avoiding connections with her past life.
He speculated that Kathleen may have changed her appearance, created a new identity, and could be working under a different name.
Despite their efforts, she remains missing and listed on the Australian Federal Police’s database.
This lack of information has left her family, especially her father, in a state of distress.
He publicly issued a heartfelt plea, urging Kathleen to return home.
He reflected the emotional toll her absence has taken on those who care for her.
As the search for her continues, her family remains hopeful that someone will come forward with crucial information.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts or anyone who may have seen her on October 28 is urged to contact Chatswood Police Station or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
Each piece of information, no matter how small, could be a vital clue in bringing Kathleen home.
As her family and friends continue to search for answers, they remain steadfast in their hope for Kathleen's safe return.
In another unsolved mystery, Laura Haworth, a young mother of two, vanished on January 5, 2008.
She mysteriously disappeared after leaving a friend's house in Queanbeyan. Her car was found a week later in Canberra.
Click here to learn more details about her disappearance.
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