NSW: Teenager's disappearance a year ago has police fearful

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2004
NSW: Teenager's disappearance a year ago has police fearful

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - Teenager Rose Howell put the finishing touches to her 19th birthday
invitations and handed them out to friends near her Coffs Harbour home.

Hours later she disappeared.

That was one year ago and police and Ms Howell's family remain baffled by her disappearance.

Police fear she might be the victim of foul play. Her bank accounts have not been touched
and she has made no contact with family or friends over the past 12 months.

Detectives today renewed their appeal for help, detailing the teenager's last movements.

Ms Howell left her mother's house in the Bundagen community, about 20 km south of Coffs
Harbour on Friday, April 11, 2003.

She went to the library in Bellingen and worked on invitations for her 19th birthday
party which was due to be held on April 21. She then handed them out to friends, police
said today.

Detectives have been told that Ms Howell was driven from Bellingen by an unknown person
and dropped off about 5pm at Marx Hill.

It is believed she was then picked up by another motorist.

The last sighting of her was at 5.30pm on April 11 when she was seen hitchhiking north
on the Pacific Highway near the Old Pacific Highway turn-off to Perry Hill and Repton.

A spokeswoman said police believe a number of motorists travelling on the highway at
the time would have seen her.

Police are keen to speak to a motorist, believed to be from the Repton area, who picked
Ms Howell up at Marx Hill and dropped her at the turn-off on the highway.

Ms Howell is described as being of white/European appearance, about 160cm tall, with
olive skin and hazel/green eyes.

At the time of her disappearance, she had short, dark brown hair with the sides shaved
and a mohawk on top. She also had two moles below her hairline.

Anyone with information about Rose's disappearance is urged to contact police.

AAP sal/cmc

KEYWORD: HOWELL

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