Vanished in 1979: What Happened to Tanya Farrington?

In 1979, Tanya Farrington's mother woke up to find her 14-year-old daughter missing and the back door wide open.

That was the beginning of one of Sydney’s most heartbreaking cold cases.

More than four decades later, her family wants closure and really want to know what happened that fateful day. 

Who Was Tanya Farrington?

Tanya Irene Farrington was born in October 31, 1964, and she was the only daughter of her parents, Irene and Anthony Farrington. 

She grew up in Crows Nest, a suburb of Sydney, with her parents and older brother, Anthony Jr.

Shortly before her disappearance, Tanya had recently moved with her family from the Central Coast to Sydney.

Her father relocated the family in hopes of finding better work opportunities for himself. 

The change was reportedly significant for Tanya at the time .

 She grew up in a quieter country environment which is very different from the fast-paced city lifestyle.

According to her brother Anthony, “Tanya was a happy country girl turning into a woman when she was exposed to the city.” 

Tanya was described by those who knew her as a fun-loving, friendly, and happy young girl. 

She had brown hair, green or hazel eyes, and an olive complexion. 

She attended Cremorne Girls’ High School, where she was remembered as someone who liked being around friends. 

At the time of her disappearance, Tanya was 14 years old and was beginning to explore adolescence. 

Her family later shared that she was known to sometimes sneak out at night to meet up with friends.

They also said that Tanya appeared older than her age and was "rebellious", but not out of control.

According to a coroner's inquest, Tanya was sexually active, drank alcohol, and smoked cannabis by the age of 14.

She also reportedly had a boyfriend who was four years older than her at the time.

Despite her growing curiosity and love for adventure, Tanya was still just a child navigating her way through adolescence. 

She had hopes, dreams, and a whole future ahead of her.

Her life mattered deeply to her family—especially to her brother, who recalled her as his only sibling and someone who brought joy into their home.  

The Day Tanya Disappeared 

On March 22, 1979, Tanya Farrington went missing from her family home on Nicholson Parade in Crows Nest, located on Sydney’s North Shore. 

Her older brother Anthony was the last person to see her that fateful evening.

They had been watching television together, and he told her goodnight around 11:00 PM before going to bed.

By the next morning, when her mother went to wake her for school, Tanya was gone. 

Her bed was still neatly made and hadn't been slept in, and the back door of the house was found open.

There were no signs of forced entry into the house, and none of Tanya's personal belongings appeared to be missing.

Her family didn't worry much initially because she had sneaked out in the past to meet up with friends.

In one previous incident, she stayed out overnight and was found the next morning with her boyfriend on Manly Beach. 

But after two days passed with no sign of Tanya, her family knew that this wasn’t just another rebellious night out.

She was eventually reported missing to the local police department. 

The Search and Investigation into Tanya's Disappearance

After Tanya Farrington was reported missing  on March 23, 1979, an immediate search was launched. 

Tanya’s family, along with police, started looking for any sign of the 14-year-old, but sadly the search came up empty. 

Over the next few monhs, her father and brother walked through various streets in Sydney, distributing her photo and asking anyone if they had seen her.

Her case was widely publicized, and the family appeared on TV shows like the Mike Walsh Show in 1979 and again in 1982.

They hoped that someone would come forward with information about her whereabouts.

Despite the extensive efforts of the family, no concrete lead emerged and the case eventually went cold.

Tanya's family were aware she had a boyfriend back then, but they didn’t know his name.

During the investigation, police looked into a man believed to have been Tanya’s boyfriend at the time she went missing.

According to police records, the man in question denied being in a relationship with her.

However 30 years later, just before a coroner’s hearing, police received a tip that the man was actually Tanya’s boyfriend.

Although he is not considered a person of interest, police want to speak with him as he may have important information, especially since he initially denied any connection to Tanya.

Despite numerous efforts, no arrests have been made, and the investigation into this unsolved mystery remains open.

RELATED: 12-Year-Old Rhianna Barreau Vanished While Walking Home — Decades Later, Her Case Remains Unsolved.

Possible Sightings 

Over the years, several potential sightings were reported, which helped keep the investigation active: 

1) In 1982, a close friend of Tanya and her sister (a former classmate) told police they saw Tanya alive three years after she vanished. However, this sighting was not confirmed by law enforcement. 

2) Another witness said she saw Tanya visit her parents’ unit in Queensland in the early 1990s but found the home empty. 

The witness said Tanya was looking well and healthy, but this sighting was never substantiated. 

3) A separate witness claimed they saw Tanya working a prostitute in Kings Cross around 1992. However, police found that this claim was unreliable, and no further action was taken on it.

Potential Theories 

Over the years, some theories have surfaced regarding what may have happened to 14-year-old Tanya Farrington after she vanished on the night of March 22, 1979. 

1. Voluntary Disappearance

One of the earliest and most widely considered theories is that Tanya may have left home on her own. 

She had a habit of sneaking out in the past to meet up with friends, but she always returned the next morning. 

This theory gained more traction when multiple people came forward claiming to have seen Tanya after her disappearance.

Despite the confidence of those making these claims, none of the sightings were ever confirmed.

Additionally, her family believes she couldn’t have just vanished without a trace.

She was very close to her mother, and her father was kind of "strict" because of her rebellious behaviour. 

There were no signs of distress at home or any issues that would have caused her to run away at the time.

Her brother, Anthony, is convinced that she was abducted and probably harmed that night.

 2. Abduction by a Serial Offender

Another theory investigators explored is that Tanya may have crossed pathes with a predator or serial killer who was active in the area. 

It is believed that Tanya had no money and intended to hitchhike to her destination.

This theory suggests that she may have been abducted and probably harmed by someone who offered her a free ride.

Detectives looked into several other cases involving young girls who vanished within a one-year period around the same time Tanya went missing.

However no solid evidence directly connected Tanya’s case to these other disappearances.

3. Foul Play by Then-Boyfriend

A third theory revolves around a young man believed to have been Tanya’s boyfriend at the time she vanished. 

It’s believed that Tanya had sneaked out that night to meet him.

While he has denied any involvement, his name came up more than once during the investigation. 

Years after her disappearance, one of his relatives reportedly claimed that he had confessed to killing Tanya and disposing of her body. 

However, this confession was never verified, and no physical evidence ever tied him to the case.

Despite the disturbing nature of the claim, the boyfriend was never formally charged, and police were unable to confirm whether the story was genuine or exaggerated. 

Even with no concrete evidence, the theory of foul play has remained in the background, especially as the other theories failed to provide concrete answers.

Each of these theories carries its own potentials, but none has been proven till today.

Ongoing Efforts in Tanya's Disappearance

More than four decades after Tanya Farrington vanished, her case remains one of Australia's most enduring mysteries.

But time has not weakened the determination to find out what happened to her.

The police launched a new investigation into the case led by detective Naomi Martin in the early 2000s.

However, the investigation was delayed by the disappearance of the initial case files from 1970s

“(The detective) spoke to friends, took DNA, followed up all the leads – she did her best,” said Tanya’s older brother Anthony Jr.

“But all the original paperwork – the names, dates, times – were lost. She had to start from scratch,” he added.

In 2009, the case was brought before the Coroner’s Court where the coroner concluded that Tanya had been murdered in 1979.

However, the exact details of where and how she was killed could not be determined

The police have announced a $100,000 reward for any information that could lead to a conviction. 

Despite the reward, Tanya’s fate remains a mystery, and her disappearance continues to be investigated by the New South Wales Police.

As part of their renewed investigation, authorities issued fresh public appeals, hoping that someone with long-held knowledge might finally come forward.

Tanya's name was also added to Western Australia’s official long-term missing persons list, ensuring her case remains active in public awareness and within police records.

Tanya’s parents sadly passed away without ever knowing what happened to her, leaving only her brother. 

Now married with children, he has continued to speak out in the media over the years, keeping her story alive and advocating for answers.

He strongly believes that someone—perhaps a friend, witness, or even the perpetrator—will come forward with the truth.

If you have any information, no matter how small, that could help solve the disappearance of Tanya Farrington, please anonymously contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Sometimes all it takes is one call to bring a family the answers they’ve waited decades to hear.

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