Rona Louise Edwards
A young woman vanishes from a remote Australian town after being seen with a mystery man, sparking a decades-long homicide investigation.
Rona Louise Edwards, a 25-year-old woman residing in the remote northern town of Wyndham, Western Australia, vanished under suspicious circumstances in the late autumn of 1978. Her disappearance has since become one of the state's most enduring unsolved cases, leaving her family and community searching for answers for over four decades.
On the night of Tuesday, May 23, 1978, between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM, Rona was seen for the last time. She was in a car park directly opposite the Wyndham Hotel, a local landmark, in the company of an unidentified man. After this sighting, she was never seen or heard from again. Extensive inquiries and searches by police in the years that followed have failed to locate her or uncover what happened that night.
The circumstances surrounding her disappearance led investigators to treat the case as a homicide. Despite the passage of time, the investigation remains open. In an effort to generate new leads, the Western Australian government has offered a substantial reward of $1,000,000 for information that leads to a conviction in the case, hoping to finally bring closure to the mystery of what happened to Rona Louise Edwards.
Timeline Event Legend
Filter events by type
AllShowing all event types. Click to filter.
Unlock Full Timeline Details
You're viewing the compact timeline. Upgrade to access full event descriptions, sources, and evidence links.
Upgrade MembershipRona's Birth
Rona Louise Edwards was born.
Last Sighting
Rona was last seen alive in a car park opposite the Wyndham Hotel in Wyndham, Western Australia, between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM.
Reported Missing & Investigation Begins
Rona was reported missing, and police commenced an investigation. Her disappearance is treated as a homicide.
$1 Million Reward Announced
The Western Australian Government announced a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction in the disappearance of Rona Louise Edwards.
Every Detail Matters
Cold cases are solved when communities come together. Whether you have family records, local knowledge, historical research, or any information—no matter how small—please share it.
Share What You Know
Even the smallest detail could be the breakthrough investigators need. If you have information about this case, submit a tip.
Upload Evidence
Have photos, documents, or media related to this case? Upload them to help build a comprehensive picture.
Join the Discussion
Share theories, ask questions, and collaborate with other community members to uncover new leads.
Spread Awareness
The more people who know about this case, the higher the chance someone will come forward with information.
Community Impact
We're building a community dedicated to helping solve Australian cold cases. Every tip, piece of evidence, and discussion brings us closer to finding answers. Your contribution could be the breakthrough investigators need.
See something? Share it with investigators.
Community collaboration solves cases.
Share this case
Help solve this case — share with your network. Someone you know might have the missing piece.
If you have information about this case, please contact your local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
No web research sources available yet.
Run AI analysis to gather sources from across the internet.
Generate a comprehensive AI analysis to get detailed insights about what occurred and critical next investigative steps. Our AI examines all available evidence, timeline events, and case details to provide actionable intelligence.
Please sign in to use AI analysis features.
Cases with similar characteristics based on location, time period, and victim demographics
