Atilla Bogar is described as 180 cm tall, of Caucasian appearance, with brown hair and eyes, and was believed to be wearing a T-shirt and jeans when he went missing. Photo: NSW Police.
More than three decades after Wollongong mum Pauline Sowry disappeared, her family may at last get some answers.
It’s proof there’s no time limit on solving missing person’s cases – just as there’s no timeline on the grief felt by families left behind.
Pauline, then aged 49, was last seen by her family around Christmastime in 1993.
Police investigations were unable to turn up answers until a series of bushland searches in 2023 and 2024 uncovered items of Pauline’s clothing.
Finally, in May 2025, a 64-year-old man, Leon Boyen, was charged with being an accessory after the fact to Pauline’s murder and helping to conceal the offence.
His trial has not yet begun, however, in bail proceedings the court was told Pauline was allegedly abducted and murdered after she “came into some money”.
Although it cannot bring Pauline back, the trial may result in Pauline’s son, Jason Lawrence, finally knowing what happened to his mum.
This Missing Person’s Week there are other families in the Illawarra who still wonder what happened to their loved ones.
Attila Bogar went missing more than 10 years ago and there has been no sign of the then-35-year-old’s Audi, which was found abandoned on the side of Picton Road in October 2014.
He was driving to Sydney from his mum’s home in Avondale Heights Victoria. Police said he was in a distressed and paranoid state.
He made a phone call to his family from Sydney on 10 October 2014 saying he was heading home and was just getting something to eat, then vanished.
Atilla is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180 cm tall with a medium build and short dark-brown hair. He was unshaven and was believed to be dressed in jeans and a T-shirt when he disappeared.
Police still hold out hope that someone saw something – that someone will come forward.
Also holding out hope this week are the families of Toni Cavanagh and Kay Docherty.
The girls were last seen at Bulli Tops; they were believed to be on their way to a blue light disco, after telling their parents each was staying at the other’s house.
Both girls were reported missing to the police on Sunday 29 July, 1979. The following week, Toni and Kay’s families received separate letters from the pair posted from the Kings Cross area, saying they were staying with friends and would be home soon.
When they went missing the girls were 15 and 16 years old. Now they would be in their mid-60s.
This year’s Missing Person’s Week Campaign is ‘Forever Loved ‘ – because no matter how much time has passed, missing people are still carried in the hearts of their families.
If you have been reported as missing, it means that someone is concerned about your safety and welfare.
It is not a crime to be missing. You should attend the nearest police station with identification so that officers can ascertain that you are safe and well.
For more information on the campaign, visit the Missing Persons website.
If you can help investigators find any missing person, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence.
