A man has been charged with being an accessory to murder in a breakthrough in the three-decades-old disappearance of Illawarra mother Pauline Sowry.

Sowry, also known by her married name Pauline Lawrence, was last seen in Wollongong’s northern suburbs in December 1993.

She was 49 when she went missing.

A coronial inquest in 2008 found Sowry most likely had died after an unconfirmed sighting of her in 1994. 

Her remains were never recovered despite extensive investigations over several years.

An Investigation into her disappearance was reopened in 2022.

In March 2024, NSW Police offered a $500,000 reward for information relating to her death or disappearance.

Searches of the Illawarra escarpment between March 2023 and October 2024 uncovered a number of clothing items relating to the disappearance.

The Illawarra escarpment is the fold in the mountain ranges surrounding Wollongong.

Following continued investigations, a 64-year-old man was arrested today in a unit on Murphys Avenue in Gwynneville.

The man was taken to Wollongong Police Station, where detectives charged him with being an accessory after the fact to murder, and with concealing a serious indictable offence.

He was refused bail by police, and will appear in Wollongong Local Court tomorrow.

Jason Lawrence today thanked officers for their dedication to the investigation into his mother’s disappearance.

“We welcome today’s news that a person has been arrested in relation to the suspicious disappearance of our beloved mum. We have waited more than 30 years to hear today’s news,” Jason said.

“We miss her every day and her disappearance has taken a huge toll on myself and our entire family.

“We thank the police officers for never giving up hope and we look forward to the outcome of this investigation,” he said.

NSW Police Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar praised his officers’ work following the arrest.

“During last year’s renewed appeal for information, I made a promise that the NSW Police would leave no stone unturned to seek a resolution, and the persistence and effort by my officers have resulted in today’s arrest,” Cassar said.

“I commend the tireless commitment of our officers in finding answers for Pauline’s family and they continue to work hard to bring this matter before the courts.”