They finished dinner with family, climbed into a lime-green van, and drove into the dark. Neither was ever seen again.
Stephen Lapthorne, 21, and his girlfriend Michelle Pope, 18, vanished from Sydney, Australia, on the night of August 25, 1978. More than 45 years later, a $1 million reward remains on offer, and their case is still formally unsolved.
The Last Night
The couple had dinner with Stephen's family at their home on Wyuna Avenue in West Pymble that Friday evening. Afterward, Stephen planned to drive Michelle roughly 20 minutes to her parents' home in Berowra before heading off on a snow trip with friends. They left in Stephen's lime green 1977 Bedford CF van around 10:30 p.m. Michelle never arrived home, and Stephen never made it to his trip.
A Van That Was Never Found
Despite an extensive search, neither the couple nor Stephen's distinctive van — featuring chrome mag wheels, a dark green side stripe, and custom interior seating — has ever been located. Investigators have long suspected the couple was murdered and buried somewhere in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, though death by misadventure has never been entirely ruled out.
A Coroner's Ruling
In August 2005, nearly 27 years after their disappearance, a NSW deputy state coroner formally ruled that both Stephen and Michelle had died, issuing death certificates for each, though the inquest reached an open finding on the exact date, time, and cause of death.
A Case Reopened
In January 2021, NSW Police's State Crime Command Homicide Squad formally reopened the case for review. That June, a tip led to a two-day search of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park; searchers found vehicle parts, but none connected to the missing pair.
A Growing Reward
In August 2021, the NSW government increased the reward for information from $100,000 to $1 million. Michelle's brother, Jeff Pope, said their mother, Veronica, died without ever learning what happened to her daughter, and that the family hoped the reward might finally prompt someone to come forward. Stephen's sister, Kerrie Coy, said the absence of their bodies had made it impossible for the family to properly grieve, even as parents on both sides passed away without answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Stephen Lapthorne and Michelle Pope ever been found?
No. Neither the couple nor Stephen's van has ever been located, though a 2005 coroner's inquest formally ruled both had died.
Is there still a reward for information?
Yes, up to $1 million, offered by the NSW government since August 2021.
Is the case still being investigated?
Yes. NSW Police's Homicide Squad formally reopened the case in 2021 and continues to treat it as active.