One of Queensland’s longest murder mysteries remains unsolved after the State Coroner was unable to determine who killed 20-year-old Sharron Phillips nearly 40 years ago.
Ms Phillips vanished from Wacol in 1986, after her car ran out of petrol on Ipswich Rd – about 10km from her home – just before midnight on May 8 that year.
Ms Phillips called her boyfriend about 11pm to ask for help from a payphone nearby.
She called shortly again after midnight but his housemate told her he was already on his way to collect her.
In 2021, State Coroner Terry Ryan was tasked to investigate the young woman’s disappearance after a second coronial inquest was opened.
In his findings, Mr Ryan found Ms Phillips was dead and that the “circumstances surrounding her death” were “suspicious and indicate the involvement of a third party” was involved.
However, Mr Ryan was unable to be satisfied from the evidence heard during the inquest that a man who was suspected of being the alleged murderer was involved.
The inquest had heard taxi driver Raymond Peter Mulvihill had been in the area Ms Phillips was last seen.
Mr Mulvihill’s son, Ian Seely, had accused his father of the murder after the man made a deathbed confession in 2002.
During his evidence at the inquest, Mr Seely said he had told police he’d helped move an unconscious Ms Phillips from his father’s taxi into the boot of his own car the night she vanished.
Mr Seeley was dropped home by his father, who drove away with Ms Phillips in the boot of his car.
Mr Seeley has never been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to Ms Phillips’ disappearance.
Further investigation determined Mulvihill would park his taxi behind the group of shops where Ms Phillips had stopped to use the phone and that he had done so on the night she disappeared.
Mr Ryan said in his findings that Mr Mulvihill and his son could have had “some involvement” in Ms Phillips’ disappearance.
However, Mr Ryan found he was not able to conclude that Mr Mulvihill or his son had played a role in Ms Phillips’ death because Mr Seeley’s evidence had many “inconsistencies and a lack of credibility”.
Mr Ryan said Mr Seeley had failed to provide “sufficient, credible or reliable information” to “support the story he has told” that would assist in determining who killed Ms Phillips.
“I am not able to conclude that Mr Mulvihill played a role in Sharron’s disappearance to the necessary standard,” he said.
“(Sharon’s death) remains with the cold case investigation for timely review and monitoring of any new information.
“The identity of the deceased was Sharon Phillips.
“How she died and the precise circumstances of her death is unknown.”
Ms Phillips’ body has never been found.
‘Harrowing’ wait for answers
Following the outcome, Owen Lockett shared his disappointment about the uncertainty surrounding Ms Phillips’ death.
Mr Lockett, who had given evidence during the inquest, said he had come across Mr Mulvihill walking out of the bush with a shovel on May 10, 1986.
Mr Lockett had pulled over with his now wife to see if Mr Mulvihill needed assistance after seeing the taxi on the side of a dirt road with its back doors open.
He said when he saw Mr Mulvihill walking towards him out of the dark treeline, he felt “cold shivers” through him and knew something was suspicious.
Mr Lockett claimed Mr Mulvihill dismissed his concern, telling him: “Can’t a man have a sh-t” before driving away.
Mr Lockett said despite calling police about the incident, he’s felt like his evidence has been “disregarded” during the investigation.
“For 38 years, we thought there would be something, they’ve done nothing,” Mr Lockett said.
“It’s harrowing. It’s been very tough.
“It’s almost twice her lifespan we’ve been looking to help her but nobody cares.
“Ultimately we wanted them to look at that site, and if they found remains they’d find the girl.
“Took three years to find nothing and here we are today, 38 years later and we’ve found nothing.
“That was always going to be the case because the system looks after themselves. The police fail and they don’t want to admit it.
“We’ve done our best but it will still be with us.”