Renewed efforts to solve 1975 Townsville murder

Today the Minister for Police and Corrective Services has backed a fresh appeal by the Queensland Police Service for information relating to the 1975 murder of Catherine Pamela Graham in Townsville.

Before her death, 18-year-old Catherine moved to Townsville and was working selling educational books door to door.

On the evening of 29 July, 1975, the night that police believe was the night of her murder, Catherine had been seen canvassing houses in the Hermit Park area.

Catherine was due to be picked up by friends at 11pm once she had finished for the night, however she never made it to the pick-up point.

Catherine’s body was located about 5pm on 1 August 1975 in a paddock in Oak Valley, 18 kilometres from Townsville along the Flinders Highway.

Catherine died from head injuries received during the attack.

“We know for a fact Catherine phoned her mother that night at 8.19pm from a phone box in the Townsville area known as Rising Sun.

“During the call she told her mother she did not like the look of a man standing nearby,” Detective Superintendent Chris Hodgman of the Homicide Group said.

The homicide was subject to a thorough investigation by local detectives at the time, however despite efforts that crossed four decades, the matter remains unsolved.

The murder is now subject to review by members of the Cold Case Investigation Team within State Crime Command’s Homicide Group.

A $250,000 reward remains in place for information that may lead to the conviction of the person responsible for this murder.

“Our Cold Case Investigation team is the best in the nation and police have had great success recently with cold case homicides.

“This renewed appeal for information, calls on the community to help our police solve this brutal and unsolved crime,” Minister Ryan said.

“It is particularly important to stress the importance of the matter of indemnity offered along with this reward.

“Any person who was involved in the crime but did not commit the murder who comes forward and speaks with police, is eligible for this indemnity from prosecution.

“Please take the time to consider this offer carefully,” the Minister said.

Detective Superintendent Hodgman said there are people with information that can help police solve this murder.

“We plea to anyone who has this information and for whatever reason has remained silent, to put that aside and come forward and speak with us,” Detective Superintendent Hodgman said.

“We have a number of strategies available to us to help us move cold cases forward, find those responsible and bring them before the court.

“Our motivation will always remain finding answers for the families who have gone far too long not knowing what happened to their loved one.

“Renewing our appeal and confirming the availability of a significant reward for information provides us an opportunity to raise the stakes for the information we need to help find those answers,” Detective Superintendent Hodgman said.

Media contacts  

Minister Ryan’s Office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300

Police Media: Ph: (07) 3015 2444