Australian Cases with a Reward for Information

Unsolved disappearances are harrowing for families and loved ones to experience. The constant question of not knowing what happened to a loved one is horrendous.

The following is a list of Australian unsolved disappearances and murders which now have a large cash reward offered for information to help solve the case.

The Disappearance of Rhianna Barreau

On the 7th of October 1992, 12-year-old Rhianna Barreau was home alone during her school holidays at the time of her disappearance. Rhianna's mother left for work in the morning. Following this, Rhianna decided to go to the shops and, due to a bus strike that was taking place at the time, walked to the nearest newsagent a kilometre from her house. Rhianna was sighted on her way to the shop at about 10:30am. The last confirmed sighting of Rhianna was at 12:30pm on Highway Drive, Morphett Vale, presumably on her way home from the newsagent. It is believed that Rhianna made it home, as her purchase was found on the dining table, however, it is uncertain what time this occurred.

Rhianna's mother, Paula Barreau, returned home at around 4pm and discovered the purchase on the table, the television was on, and there were records on the floor.

Rhianna's family made several public pleas for information and help in finding Rhianna. In addition, Rhianna's father, Leon Barreau, flew in from his home in Queensland to help with the search.

Because of the time elapsed since her disappearance, it is believed that Rhianna was murdered. Three decades have passed since Rhianna's disappearance and the shock waves of the case are still being felt in her hometown of Morphett Vale. Investigators have publicly stated that they believe that Rhianna's body is closer to home than you would think.

Although there are several suspects in the case, no arrests have been made. It is believed that the offender acted alone and has not told anyone of their crime.

There is a reward of $1 million for information that leads to a conviction in the case, or for information about the location of her remains. Rhianna's case remains open.

The Disappearance of Revelle Balmain

On the 5th of November 1994, Revelle Balmain - a 22 year-old model - went missing in Kingsford, Sydney. Before her disappearance, Revelle's career was beginning to take off and she was leaving for a six-week tour of Japan the day after her disappearance. Revelle failed to meet her mother for lunch at Newcastle Station.

It was reported that Revelle was quitting her job as a high-end escort on the day of her disappearance, her last shift being with a man named Gavin Owen Samer. Her driver dropped her off at his residence at 4pm. Revelle was last seen in the Kingsford area of Sydney. Revelle's personal property, which included a make-up bag, keys and a shoe, was later found scattered near Ainslie Street.

A coronial inquest into the case in 1999 determined that Revelle Balmain had been killed at the hands of unknown persons, and the case was handed over to the Unsolved Homicide Unit for further investigation.

In May 2021, a $1 million reward was offered to help crack the case. It looks like the cash reward may have paid off. In December of 2021, Revelle's former boss, Zoran Stanojevic, was named a person of interest in the case. This comes after Zoran's ex-wife, Jane King, stated she had no idea of his whereabouts during the night in question. However, no one has been arrested in association with Revelle Balmain's disappearance.

The Disappearance of Lisa Joanne Govan

Lisa Joanna Govan, a 28-year-old Australian woman, was last seen at approximately 7:30 in the vicinity of the Foundry Hotel in Kalgoorlie, WA, on the 8th of October 1999. In her last sighting, Lisa did not appear to be distressed or upset, and was seen talking on her phone. Lisa did not contact any family members or withdraw any money from her account prior to her disappearance. It is thought that Lisa has been murdered.

In 2021, a $1 million reward was offered for information pertaining to the case. In particular, authorities are asking for information which identifies the current owner or location of a white 1985 Toyota Landcruiser tray back utility vehicle.

The Abduction and Murder of Gerard Ross

Gerard Ross, an 11-year-old schoolboy, went missing from Rockingham in Perth's south at 9:30am on the 14th of October 1997, after setting out to meet his brother at a comic shop. Gerard was last sighted on his way to the store, however, he never actually made it there. Unfortunately, after just two weeks, Gerard's body was discovered at Karnup Pine Plantation in Baldivis.

Police offered a $1 million dollar reward for information about the Gerard Ross murder. In January 2021, it was reported that the prime suspect in Gerard's murder admitted to seeing Gerard moments before his disappearance. Recently, in September 2021, police raided a handful of homes related to the murder.

The Tynong North and Frankston Murders

In the early 1980s, the bodies of six women were discovered in the Tynong North and Frankston regions of Melbourne. It is believed that a serial killer was at large.

Allison Rooke (aged 59), was the first known victim. Allison disappeared on the 30th of May 1980, after experiencing trouble with her car. Allison was waiting for a bus along the Frankston-Dandenong road when she disappeared. Her body was discovered five weeks later by a man walking his dogs in a shallow grave on McClelland Drive in Frankston.

Joy Summers (aged 55), who was heading on her weekly shopping trip, also disappeared whilst waiting for the bus on Frankston-Dandenong Road. Joy's body, similar to Allison's, was also found in scrub near the intersection of McClelland Drive and Skye Road, Frankston, six weeks after her disappearance.

Bertha Miller (aged 73) disappeared on the 10th of August 1980 on her way to church whilst heading to a tram-stop in Glen Iris. Catherine Headland (aged 14) disappeared on the 28th of August 1980 while walking to a bus stop to attend her part-time job at Fountain Gate shopping complex. Ann-Marie Sargent (aged 18) disappeared on the 6th of October 1980 after travelling from her mother's house to a nearby CES office in Dandenong to claim a benefits cheque. All three womens' skeletal remains were found on the 6th of December 1980. Bertha was fully clothed and the younger girls were not.

On the 3rd of February 1983, more human remains were found in Tynong North scrubland. The bones were determined to belong to Narumol Stephenson (aged 34). Narumol was a Thai mother-of-two who had married an Australian farmer in Thailand in 1978. Narumol disappeared in Brunswick whilst on a visit to Melbourne, around dawn on the 30th November of 1980 after a fight.

The prime suspect in the case, Harold Janman, who was interviewed by police about the murders in 1981 and repeatedly proclaimed his innocence. He died in 2020 at the age of 88. Harold Janman had told police officers that he had offered women lifts along the same roads where Joy Summers and Allison Rooke had gone missing.

Police have put up a $6 million reward for help in the case.