Balgownie residents were going about their daily routines—bringing in the bins, riding bikes, walking their dogs—unaware that the bushland behind their homes might soon unlock a 55-year-old mystery.
While much of the area is now suburban, the location identified as a place of interest was once bush and farmland at the time of Cheryl Grimmer’s disappearance. One resident reflected, “That little girl could have been lying there all this time and nobody knew.”
### The Scene Around Balgownie in 1970
The Balgownie area, which is now mostly developed, looked very different around the time Cheryl disappeared. It was an isolated stretch of bushland and farmland, making it a crucial focus for reinvestigation efforts.
### A New Lead Emerges
This new development has come from the dedication of Detective Senior Constable Frank Sanvitale, who was assigned to reinvestigate the case in 2016.
In 1971, a confession was made by a then 17-year-old, mentioning a gate and cattle grid at the site where the crime allegedly took place. However, police at the time dismissed the confession and never conducted a thorough search of the location.
During the recent reinvestigation, the landowner’s son confirmed the existence of a gate and cattle grid on the property, along with a metal fence—details previously considered inconsistent with the original confession.
### Search Dogs Sydney Joins the Investigation
At a recent Missing Persons Week event held in Wollongong, the volunteer group Search Dogs Sydney participated in efforts to explore the potential sites.
Chris D’Arcy, President of Search Dogs Sydney, said Detective Sanvitale approached them to help follow up on several leads. They subsequently brought trained search dogs to examine the bushland behind Balgownie homes.
“We covered the area in great detail, and the dogs provided us with an area of interest that needs further investigation,” said Mr. D’Arcy.
### Next Steps and Uncertainties
While the dogs indicated a location of interest, Mr. D’Arcy cautioned, “We don’t know that it is Cheryl, it could be somebody else. There have definitely been a lot of other deaths within the area in the last 50 years.”
He added, “It might not be her; it might be somebody else. But unless further testing is undertaken, we won’t know for sure.”
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https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/9080483/balgownie-bush-search-revives-1970-cheryl-grimmer-cold-case/?src=rss
