Overview

Megan began work at 8:30 a.m. at Big W in Woden Plaza. She completed her shift at approximately 12:05 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing her about ten minutes later outside the western entrance of the shopping centre near the western car park, where she was expected to catch a bus home.

When she failed to return, her family quickly realized something was wrong. According to relatives, disappearing without telling anyone was completely out of character for the responsible and reliable teenager.

Police immediately launched a missing person investigation involving extensive searches of nearby bushland, lakes, and surrounding areas. Despite considerable efforts, investigators found no trace of Megan.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Megan Louise Mulquiney:
The Disappearance That Remains One of Canberra’s Most Enduring Cold Cases

On the morning of 28 July 1984, 17-year-old Megan Louise Mulquiney left her home in Canberra for what should have been a routine shift at Big W in Woden Plaza. She finished work shortly after noon and was last seen standing near the western entrance of the shopping centre, waiting to catch a bus home. She never arrived.

More than four decades later, Megan’s disappearance remains one of the Australian Capital Territory’s longest-running and most significant unsolved missing person investigations. Despite extensive searches, a coronial inquest, multiple persons of interest, and renewed investigative efforts over the years, her body has never been found and no one has been charged.

The Day Megan Disappeared

Megan began work at 8:30 a.m. at Big W in Woden Plaza. She completed her shift at approximately 12:05 p.m. Witnesses reported seeing her about ten minutes later outside the western entrance of the shopping centre near the western car park, where she was expected to catch a bus home.

When she failed to return, her family quickly realized something was wrong. According to relatives, disappearing without telling anyone was completely out of character for the responsible and reliable teenager.

Police immediately launched a missing person investigation involving extensive searches of nearby bushland, lakes, and surrounding areas. Despite considerable efforts, investigators found no trace of Megan.

The Investigation

As the investigation progressed, detectives explored numerous leads.

One early avenue involved a young man Megan had planned to meet after work. Police investigated him extensively and ultimately determined there was insufficient evidence to connect him to her disappearance.

Attention later shifted to convicted serial sex offender Paul Vincent Phillips, whose violent criminal history closely matched the circumstances surrounding Megan’s disappearance.

Only two months after Megan vanished, Phillips abducted another 17-year-old woman from the same Woden Plaza western car park before sexually assaulting her. Investigators later noted that Megan closely matched the physical profile of several of Phillips’ known victims.

Phillips consistently denied involvement in Megan’s disappearance throughout his life.

Coronial Findings

A coronial inquest concluded in 2011 that:

1. Megan most likely died on or shortly after the day she disappeared.
2. It was highly likely she had been murdered.
3. Two principal persons of interest had been identified.
4. The evidence was insufficient to identify the person responsible beyond reasonable doubt.

The coroner was unable to make a definitive finding regarding who killed Megan because her body has never been located and critical evidence remains unavailable.

Breakthrough Following a Suspect’s Death

In 2018, investigators announced renewed progress after Paul Vincent Phillips died.

ACT Policing revealed they had received fresh information from members of the public who may have previously been reluctant to speak while Phillips was alive.

Investigators stated they believed Phillips likely did not act alone, suggesting additional individuals may possess information about what happened to Megan.

Police publicly appealed for anyone carrying information—even information that may seem insignificant—to come forward.

Latest Investigation Update

Megan’s case remains an active cold case.

In 2026, ACT Policing again highlighted Megan’s disappearance during International Missing Children’s Day, emphasizing that her investigation remains open. Detectives continue to seek information from anyone who may remember events surrounding Woden Plaza on 28 July 1984.

Police continue to believe someone within the community may possess information capable of advancing the investigation, regardless of how minor it may appear today.

No arrests have been made, no remains have been recovered, and investigators continue to encourage witnesses to come forward.

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Facebook Post:
On Saturday 28 July, 1984, Megan Louise Mulquiney, 17, commenced work at her part-time job at Big W Woden plaza, ACT at 8.30am.

At the end of her shift, Megan was observed leaving her workplace at about 12.05pm and was last seen, at about 12.15pm, standing outside the western entrance of the Woden Plaza, adjacent to Big W and the western car park.

There is no report of her having been seen by any person to whom she was known since that moment.

Members of the Australian Federal Police carried out extensive enquiries at the time with school friends, family, associates, taxi companies, public transport authorities and hotels and motels in the Canberra and Queanbeyan regions. These failed to reveal any information regarding Megan’s movements after about 12.15pm on that day.

Police searches have been conducted in an endeavour to find Megan. Several searches throughout 1984, including in the areas surrounding the Woden Cemetery, Hindmarsh Drive, Athlon Drive, Johnson Drive, Isabella Drive and the Brindabella Ranges failed to find Megan or her remains.

In 1985 members of the AFP diving squad searched the areas of Lake Burley Griffin and Lake Ginninderra. These efforts failed to locate Megan’s remains or any sign of the 17 year old.

It became clear to the investigating officers that Megan had probably been abducted and killed.

The only prime suspect in the case, serial rapist Paul Vincent Phillips, has been definitively ruled out, and there has been no new information relating to the case.

Detective Acting Inspector Adam Rhynehart said the investigation into Megan’s disappearance remained open.

“Community assistance is paramount in long-term missing persons cases, and any information could be the missing piece to the puzzle, which is why weeks like National Missing Persons Week is so important as it gives police a chance to engage with the community about all of our long-term missing persons.”

Dorothy Mulquiney, Megans mum now had always believed Megan had accepted a lift from someone she knew, and that it was too far-fetched to imagine her being taken in broad daylight.
But as the years went on, she said the main thing she worried about was she may never know the truth of what happened to Megan.

“I just hope I don’t die before they find Megan’s remains or find out what happened to her,” she said.

Mrs Mulquiney said she had made arrangements for what needed to be done for Megan if she were no longer around to get the news.

“I’ve been through everything. I wanted to have everything mapped out, but I would like to be the one who’s there,” she said.

Megan would be turning 60 in November.

Mrs Mulquiney said each time she heard of a person going missing in Australia, she felt for the family.

“People are being found now, that at least is good,” she said. Megan disappeared in a time with no CCTV or mobile phones, and it would be almost impossible to disappear so completely without a trace nowadays.

“I’m glad families today have that luck,” she said.

“I just hope my luck changes. And I just don’t want people to forget her.”

Police are calling for anyone with any information relating to Megan’s disappearance to come forward.

“No matter how small you may think it is, it may just be the piece that provides Megan’s family with the long-awaited answers they deserve,” Detective Acting Inspector Rhynehart said.

Please call crime stoppers with any information. 1800 333 000.

Never Forgotten