1987 | Cowra, New South Wales, Australia | Murder | Unsolved
TLDR
Two teenage girls were bludgeoned to death in Cowra, New South Wales, after a party in April 1987. More than 1,200 people were interviewed. A $200,000 reward remains unclaimed. Nobody has ever been charged.
The Case
On the night of April 15, 1987, Catherine Holmes, 17, and Georgina Watmore, 16, attended a party in Cowra, a small agricultural town in central New South Wales. They left together at some point during the evening. Their bodies were found the next day. Both had been bludgeoned to death.
The deaths shocked the tight-knit community. Cowra is a town where most people know each other. There were people at that party who knew something.
Police launched one of the largest investigations in the region’s history. More than 1,200 people were interviewed over the following months and years. Tips were followed across the state. Forensic evidence was collected and preserved.
No arrests were ever made. No charges were ever filed.
NSW Police periodically revisit the case. A $200,000 reward for information leading to a conviction was announced and remains unclaimed. The case is managed by the NSW Unsolved Homicide Team.
In 2024, an investigative podcast titled Jindalee, produced by The Media Collective, re-examined the case using newly available evidence and interviews with people connected to the events of that night. The podcast generated new public attention and a new wave of tips to investigators.
The families of both girls have continued to advocate publicly for answers. Nearly four decades on, the case remains open.
Where to Find More
- Documentaries: No standalone documentary has been produced. Investigative journalism on the case is available through the NSW news archives.
- Books: No book-length account has been published. The Jindalee podcast (2024) is the most detailed public examination of the available evidence.
- Podcasts: Casefile True Crime covered the case in Case 63. The Jindalee investigative podcast (The Media Collective, 2024) is available on major platforms.
