She called her boyfriend twice from a roadside phone booth. By the time he arrived to help, she was gone.
Sharron Phillips, 20, disappeared from Wacol, Queensland, Australia, on the night of May 8, 1986, after her car ran out of fuel. Decades later, a coronial inquest formally concluded she was killed, though no one has ever been charged.
A Car That Ran Out of Fuel
Sharron's yellow Datsun Bluebird ran out of petrol on Ipswich Road, near the Wacol Migrant Centre, on the night of May 8, 1986. She reportedly first sought help at the nearby Wacol Army Barracks, where soldiers told her there were no phones available, before walking to a public phone booth near the local train station. At 11:18 p.m., she called a friend, Martin Balazs, asking him to pick her up. Balazs experienced a flat tire on the way and, by the time he reached her car, found no sign of Sharron. She attempted to call him again at 12:03 a.m., but he had already left. Balazs was later interviewed extensively by police and ruled out as a suspect.
Belongings Found, No Trace of Her
A week after she vanished, Sharron's bag and shoes were found near where her car had been abandoned. Separately, truck drivers reported seeing a speeding car racing away from a remote dirt track near a coal mine dumpsite in the early hours of May 9, and noticed tire tracks suggesting something had been dumped there; police reportedly told the witness they would follow up later, but any evidence at the site would have been buried under fill within days.
Competing Theories
Over the decades, several theories have circulated, none ever substantiated enough to result in charges. Some point to the Wacol Army Barracks itself, including an anonymous letter received by a newspaper years later claiming Sharron had witnessed misconduct there and was killed to keep her silent; soldiers stationed there have denied she was ever on the premises. Sharron's own family has raised questions about her father's account of his whereabouts that night, though he was never charged and denied any involvement before his death. A separate theory centers on Raymond Peter Mulvihill, a taxi driver who was in the area that night and whose son later came forward with a deathbed confession attributed to his father.
A Formal Ruling, Still No Answers
Following a second coronial inquest, Queensland State Coroner Terry Ryan issued findings in 2024 concluding that Sharron had died and that the circumstances of her death were suspicious, indicating a third party was involved. However, Ryan specifically found the Mulvihill deathbed confession too inconsistent and lacking in credibility to draw any firm conclusion about who was responsible. Both of Sharron's parents, who spent years searching for answers, have since died without ever learning what happened to their daughter.
Where Things Stand Now
Sharron's case remains with Queensland's cold case unit for ongoing review. A reward of up to $250,000 remains on offer for information leading to a conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Sharron Phillips's body ever been found?
No. Despite a formal coronial ruling that she died under suspicious circumstances, her remains have never been located.
Was anyone ever charged in her death?
No. Several theories have been investigated over the years, including a taxi driver's deathbed confession, but a coroner found that account not credible enough to draw firm conclusions, and no charges have ever been filed against anyone.
Is there still a reward for information?
Yes, up to $250,000 for information leading to a conviction.