New search for Lucille

Lucille Butterworth

NEW information about the 1969 disappearance of Lucille Butterworth has prompted police to excavate an area alongside the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk.

Miss Butterworth, then 21, was last seen in Claremont on August 25, 1969. At about 5.45pm that day, she disappeared from a bus stop near the corner of Box Hill Rd and Main Rd. She had intended to catch a bus to New Norfolk.

Police say they have recently received new information relating to a man who remains a person of interest in the case. As a result, they will excavate a site beside the Lyell Hwy, near Granton.

“The family of Lucille Butterworth deserves to know what happened.  Her brothers have lived for 46 years not knowing where she is or how she died,” Detective Inspector David Plumpton said. “We’re determined to do all we can to bring them some understanding of what happened,” he said.

“We also hope that this operation, together with the forthcoming coronial inquest, will prompt someone else with knowledge or memories of the events that night to come forward and talk to us.  It’s never too late.” The operation will begin early next week and is expected to take several weeks. It will include forensics police and excavation equipment.

Contrary to reports on the ABC today, Eve Askew - missing from Fitzgerald near Maydena since 1991 - was not successfully located at Karanja three years ago and remains missing.