Mima McKim-Hill

The unsolved murder of Mima Joan McKim-Hill has haunted Central Queensland for over half a century. In March 1967, the 21-year-old home management advisor for the Capricornia Regional Electricity Board disappeared during a work trip. Her abandoned car was discovered on a bypass road, but it wasn't until seventeen days later, on Easter Sunday, that her body was found in a waterhole at Collard Creek, 80 kilometers away. She had been strangled and sexually assaulted, sparking a massive police investigation that ultimately grew cold.

Despite an initial inquest and multiple lines of inquiry, including the search for three men in a Ford Customline and a German truck driver, no one was ever charged with Mima's murder. The case was plagued by alleged investigative missteps and a lack of communication between different police departments. Decades later, the tireless efforts of Mima's friend, Shirley Eldridge, and amateur investigator Trevor Sorenson, brought the case back into the public eye. Their investigation pointed towards a prime suspect, the German truck driver, who reportedly confessed to the crime shortly before his death in 2009. The Queensland Police Service officially reopened the case in 2008, and a $250,000 reward for information remains in place, a testament to the enduring hope for justice for Mima McKim-Hill.

The Disappearance of Mima McKim-Hill

On the morning of March 9, 1967, Mima Joan McKim-Hill, a 21-year-old home management advisor, left her Rockhampton home for what was supposed to be a routine work trip to Biloela. Accompanied by her boss, Isobel Hare, Mima was instead driven to Calliope to meet Hare's boyfriend. Mima was last seen alive in Calliope, where she was supposed to meet Hare later that day. When Mima failed to show up, a chain of events was set in motion that would lead to the discovery of a brutal murder.

The Investigation Begins

Mima's work vehicle, a station wagon, was found abandoned at 3:00 am the following morning on the Gladstone by-pass road, north of Benaraby. The car was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Inside, Mima's handbag, containing cash and her savings book, was found untouched on the backseat. However, the rear-vision mirror was broken off and the fuse box was dangling, suggesting a struggle. A bright pink button, matching an outfit Mima planned to wear that night, was found under the front seat.

Seventeen days later, on March 26, 1967, Mima's body was discovered in a small waterhole at Collard Creek, approximately 80 kilometers from where her car was found. Her body was badly decomposed, and she was identified by her father. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled with a yellow uniform from her work, which was tied around her neck. She had also been sexually assaulted and had a broken arm.

A Flawed Investigation

The initial police investigation has been heavily criticized for being disorganized and poorly handled. Detectives from Brisbane were brought in to lead the investigation, but there was a lack of coordination with local Rockhampton police. Critical crime scenes were not photographed until weeks after the discovery of the body, and witness statements were taken in a haphazard manner.

Two main lines of inquiry were pursued. The first focused on three men seen in a two-tone Ford Customline near where Mima's car was found. These men were never located. The second line of inquiry centered on a German truck driver who was transporting tallow from Rockhampton to Sydney. He was interviewed by police but denied any involvement and was eventually ruled out as a suspect.

An inquest into Mima's murder began in November 1967 and concluded in January 1968 with an open finding. Despite 26 witnesses giving evidence, no one was charged.

Renewed Hope for Justice

Decades later, Mima's friend, Shirley Eldridge, who was with Isobel Hare the night Mima's car was found, teamed up with amateur investigator Trevor Sorenson to conduct their own investigation. They uncovered new evidence and re-interviewed witnesses, which led them to believe the German truck driver was the prime suspect. According to Sorenson, the truck driver confessed to the murder before his death in 2009.

As a result of their efforts, the Queensland Police Service reopened the case in 2008. In 2014, a reward of $250,000 was offered for information leading to the conviction of Mima's killer. The case remains open, and police are still hopeful that it can be solved.