TIMELINE

1970-1979

Chris Dawson marries Lynette Simms, both aged 21. They have two daughters together and Chris starts working as a PE teacher at Cromer High School

1980

Chris begins a secret affair with Joanne Curtis, 16, his student, soon after introducing her to his family as the babysitter. He starts asking her to marry him.

1981

Lyn is persuaded by Chris to let Joanne move into their family home as the teenager’s stepfather is violent. Lyn discovers the relationship.

December 1981

Chris flees Sydney with Joanne to start a new life in Queensland, but Joanne has second thoughts and they turn around and return to Sydney.

January 1982

Joanne goes camping with her sister and school friends to mark the end of their schooling. Chris and Lyn go to marriage counselling together.

January 8, 1982

Lyn speaks with her mother on

the phone. The next day, Lyn fails to meet her family at Northbridge Baths as planned. January 10-11, 1982

One or two days after Lyn’s noshow at the pool, Chris drives to the Central Cost to pick up Joanne and they return to Sydney. He asks Joanne to move in with him. He does not report Lyn missing until almost six weeks later. 1983-1985

Chris divorces the missing Lyn and marries Joanne. The couple move to Queensland and have a daughter together.

1985 Chris starts working at Keebra Park State High School. 1990

Joanne and Chris separate and she returns to Sydney. She contacts Lyn’s family and police and provides information about Chris and Lyn. 1992-2000

Areas of the Dawson’s former Sydney home are excavated by police on different occasions, and a woman’s cardigan is found, in pieces and bearing what appear to be slash marks. Forensic testing does not make a

positive match with Lyn. 2001-2003

Two inquests are held into Lyn’s disappearance. Two coroners find she was murdered by someone known to her. Chris does not appear at either inquest. The DPP does not support a prosecution for murder or the laying of charges, citing a lack of evidence. 2010-2014

Rewards of up to $200,000 are offered for information to help solve the case.

Timeline by The Australian