A yellow van found abandoned in Western Australian bushland could hold the key to solving the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl who vanished in 1980.
WA Police on Tuesday launched a fresh appeal for help solving the 44-year-old mystery of missing girl Lisa Mott, who disappeared from the town of Collie, south of Perth.
The 12-year-old was last seen leaving a local basketball court with a friend about 8.45pm on October 30, 1980, before going to a nearby pizza shop.
She walked home around 9pm, and was last seen crossing a railway line to Forrest Street before she vanished.
Cold case investigators received a tip-off from the public in 2024 which has led them to reinvestigate a yellow Holden panel van found abandoned in the bushland off Hoddell Road in Collie.
The vehicle was previously reported to police and investigated at the time of the initial report in 1996 – 16 years after Ms Mott’s disappearance.
Police are now doubling down on the case with officers looking to identify the vehicle’s owner, after it had previously been discounted as relevant to the case.
Ms Mott was last seen entering a yellow panel van, believed to be a Holden 1970 to 1978 model, according to an eyewitness.
Detective Sergeant Greg Dowding said he is confident the WA community could help police solve the 44-year-old case.
“We are seeking anyone with information in relation to this vehicle to come forward to police,” he said.
“We want to identify the owner; we want to know how long it has been here and most importantly we want to determine whether it is relevant to Lisa’s disappearance.
“It comes as no surprise that the Western Australian community is so eager to help; it’s every parent’s worst nightmare to lose a child and spend decades without any explanation.”
Ms Mott’s sister Bernadette Mott said it was strange to know there had been fresh details in the case.
“It’s very difficult to stop hoping, especially when this has come about, but it’s actually a very weird feeling to be honest. I’m just trying to get through it,” she told the ABC.
Police will now search the bushland area near the abandoned vehicle and are calling for anyone with information to come forward or contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Previously, detectives deployed a mobile facility to the suspected area last November in the hopes of the community coming forward with fresh new leads.
