Lyn Dawson The Teacher's Pet: what's next?
It’s the cold case which has gripped the nation – just what happened to Lyn Dawson? Hopes the 36-year mystery would be solved were dashed last week, when a forensic search of the missing mother-of-two’s former home failed to find her remains.
The backyard dig at Lyn’s former Bayview home of Sydney’s northern beaches came after the podcast, The Teacher’s Pet, uncovered new evidence in the case. On January 9, 1982, Lyn, 33 at the time, disappeared from her home and has never been seen again.
Her husband, rugby league player Chris Dawson has long thought to have murdered Lyn. But he’s never been charged – and maintains his innocence. At the time, Chris, a school teacher, was having an affair with his student Joanne Curtis.
While the dig may have come up empty, this is far from the end of the line for the cold case. Right now, the case is in the hands of the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A decision is being made on whether there is enough new evidence to prosecute Dawson. Detective Superintendent Scott Cook believes police could lay charges despite not finding Lyn’s remains.
Lyn’s brother Greg Simms told The Australian: “If they had found Lyn, that was the bonus.” Also, new interest in the case could see police following fresh leads, which may result in charges being laid.
Curtis, now 54, was just 16 when she was groomed for sex by Dawson. Last week, after the search at Lyn’s former home came to a close, Curtis was spotted at Dee Why police station holding a folder of documents. What was in the documents? What was she telling police? People are desperate to hear Curtis’ side of the story.
Given the success of podcast, The Teacher’s Pet, it would almost seem a given there would be more episodes. The public’s fascination could also lead to witnesses coming forward with new information. This could finally lead to charges being laid in this perplexing – yet ever-fascinating - case.
