Reward Increased to $1 Million in 1995 Lightning Ridge Cold Case
The body of Paul Murray was found naked except for a towel, with burrs on the soles of his feet suggesting he may have been running.
The Disappearance
Paul Murray, 47, was last seen alive on March 19, 1995, when a local dropped him off on the outskirts of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. He was reported missing one week later.
About a month after his disappearance, graziers found his decomposing body in scrub approximately 2 kilometers from his campsite. A post-mortem examination and a 1996 coronial inquest found no signs of trauma and could not determine a cause of death due to advanced decomposition.
The Investigation
In 2012, the NSW State Crime Command's Unsolved Homicide Unit established Strike Force Huddleston to investigate the death. Previous rewards of $100,000 and $500,000 were offered without leading to any convictions. The investigation is currently described as being at a stalemate.
Key Details of the Case
- Paul Murray owned an opal-mining field and lived at a campsite about 8 km north-west of Lightning Ridge for five years at the time of his death.
- He had suffered a brain injury in his teenage years after being struck by a vehicle, requiring daily assistance. He moved to Lightning Ridge in 1990 to be closer to a relative who could provide care.
- His body was found naked except for a towel. Police stated that burrs were found on the soles of his feet, suggesting he may have been running.
- Paul Murray purchased a firearm shortly before his death.
- According to his brother Simon, Paul often loaned money and kept records in a small black book, which has never been recovered.
- A watch was found 50 meters from the body believed not to belong to the deceased.
Appeal for Information
During a reward announcement in Dubbo, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi of NSW Police stated that there are no current active lines of inquiry and that a $1 million reward is now offered.
"Now's the time to give Paul's family 30 minutes of your time to contact Crime Stoppers or local authorities."
Simon Murray, Paul's brother, made this direct appeal to Lightning Ridge locals, urging anyone with information to come forward.