Unanswered Questions: The Unsolved Disappearances of Three Young Women in Newcastle

For decades, the families of three young women have been left in agony, searching for answers and justice. 

Amanda Robinson, Robyn Hickie, and Leanne Goodall vanished within months of each other between 1978 and 1979. 

All three disappeared under very similar circumstances. 

There were early signs that the disappearances of Amanda, Robyn, and Leanne could be connected. 

However, investigations were plagued by delays, overlooked evidence, and even complete shutdowns, causing their cases to go cold.

As the years have gone by, renewed inquiries have struggled to uncover the truth.

But persistent errors in the original investigations continue to haunt efforts for justice.

Leanne Goodall was last seen alive on December 30, 1978, in Newcastle, at the Star Hotel. 

At 20, she was a vibrant, hopeful young woman with dreams still unfolding. 

Robyn Hickie, 18, disappeared a few months later on April 7, 1979. 

She was planning to meet a friend at the Belmont Hotel but never made it. 

Finally, 14-year-old Amanda Robinson was heading home after a school dance on April 21, 1979, when she also vanished without a trace. 

Each disappearance had eerie similarities, but at the time, police failed to connect the dots. 

Amanda Robinson

The Mysterious Vanishings: Disappearances Along the Pacific Highway

The shocking disappearances began in December 1978 with Leanne Goodall, followed by Robyn Hickie in April 1979 and Amanda Robinson just two weeks later. 

Each of the young women disappeared while either waiting for or getting off buses along the Pacific Highway.

This detail has puzzled investigators and fueled speculation about a serial predator.

From the beginning, the police response to the disappearances seemed lacking. 

Leanne Goodall’s case was dismissed as a runaway situation, with no detective even assigned to investigate. 

Robyn’s case, too, was treated with little urgency; police attributed her disappearance to her reputation as a “known hitchhiker.” 

Only Amanda’s case received a brief investigation from homicide detectives sent from Sydney, but even that was cut short after two weeks. 

The local detectives were advised to follow specific lines of inquiry, yet none were pursued.

As these cases began to fade from the public eye, their families clung to the hope that one day the truth would come to light.

Robyn Hickie A Troubling Investigation History In 2001, a new inquest finally revisited the three Newcastle disappearances.  State Coroner John Abernethy publicly criticized the early police handling. He also questioned why it took over two decades for the cases to reach a coroner.  He pointed out that crucial evidence was lost and records were insufficient.  Additionally, follow-up investigations were either minimal or nonexistent. Detective Superintendent Ron Smith, heading a later investigation, known as Strikeforce Fenwick, reflected on the missed opportunities.  He argued that, from the start, the cases should have been treated as suspected homicides.  Instead, they were assumed to be runaways, and crucial early leads were ignored.  This oversight allowed a potential serial killer to go undetected, with no investigation into the possibility of a link among the disappearances.  The similarities in the victims’ profiles and the connection to the Pacific Highway suggest they could have been targeted by a single predator.  However, with many original leads abandoned, this remains speculative. Leanne Goodall

Searching for Clues: Revisiting the Possibilities and Prime Suspects

One of the suspects most closely associated with the disappearances is Ivan Milat.

He is a notorious serial killer who worked on road crews near the Pacific Highway and lived in the vicinity when the girls disappeared.

He was known for the infamous “backpacker murders,” where he lured, tortured, and killed young travelers in the Belanglo State Forest.

Milat became a prime suspect due to his presence in the area and his history of targeting vulnerable young people. 

Witnesses even testified seeing Milat at local hotels near the victims' last known locations.

Also, reports surfaced of him boasting about body pits in the area.

Other suspects included Neville Drinkwater.

During a search of his vehicle, authorities found concerning items like scissors, tape, and explicit magazines. 

Reports also indicate that during his interview, there were multiple inconsistencies in his account of Amanda’s disappearance.

Another suspect, convicted rapist Kelvin John Macey, had been arrested for a similar crime in the same area.

However, when he was questioned about Robyn’s disappearance, he denied any involvement.

During the coroner inquest, over 120 witnesses gave testimony, and 51 locations in the Hunter region were searched. 

However, no conclusive answers were uncovered.

Detectives even uncovered evidence like gun pellets and cartridge cases near sites frequented by Milat.

But no concrete proof emerged to tie him or any other suspect definitively to the disappearances. 

Even with a long list of possible suspects and extensive recent searches, each lead eventually hit a dead end.

Teens Amanda Robinson and Robyn Hickie

Families Continue the Fight: Efforts to Seek Justice

Today, despite the limitations of past investigations, the families of Amanda, Robyn, and Leanne continue their quest for answers. 

Thanks to recent efforts by Strikeforce Fenwick.

Interest in the cases has been reignited, and investigative tactics have been modernized. 

The hope is that with advances in forensic technology and new investigative techniques, any remaining evidence might finally reveal the truth.

In 2002, Coroner John Abernethy concluded that the three women were likely murdered by an unknown individual or group. 

But for the grieving families, this brought little relief. 

Without physical evidence or confessions, justice feels just as elusive as it did decades ago. 

Robyn Hickie’s father, for one, feels certain he knows who’s responsible.

However, he acknowledges that without concrete evidence, justice may never come.

The pain and uncertainty these families face have spurred a push for police accountability and transparency in handling missing persons cases. 

The reexaminations, inquests, and expanded searches show that while justice may be delayed, the commitment to finding answers has not waned.

Police released an image of a distinctly green mid-1970s four-door Holden Torana sedan. Investigators believe the vehicle may be linked to Ms Hickie and Ms Robinson's cases

Recent Developments

In January 2024, a former tourism executive Warren McCorriston, 62, was arrested and charged in connection with the 1980 abduction of a 16-year-old girl from Lake Macquarie in New South Wales. 

According to authorities, he is also a person of interest in the unsolved 1979 disappearances of Robyn Hickie, and Amanda Robinson.

The arrest followed an investigation by the NSW Police Strike Force Arapaima.

At the time of the alleged crime, McCorriston would have been around 18 years old. 

He was previously a manager at Daydream Island Resort and the Surfers Paradise Q1 apartment complex.

Additionally, McCorriston is being investigated in relation to the 1994 abduction and suspected murder of 16-year-old Gordana Kotevski, who was last seen being forced into a car in Charlestown.

The disappearances of Amanda Robinson, Robyn Hickie, and Leanne Goodall remain an unsolved mystery that baffles everyone till date.

Despite a $1 million reward for information, their cases remain unsolved.

For their families, the quest for truth has been a decades-long struggle filled with frustration, heartbreak, and perseverance. 

While there may never be a clear resolution, the hope for justice drives their efforts to keep the memory of these young women alive.

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