The Abduction of Jessica Small
Episode 121
In late October of 1997, in New South Wales, Fifteen year old Jessica Small and her best friend Vanessa took a ride with a man they didn't know. Shortly before arriving at the destination, the man attacked and while Vanessa managed to escape, Jessica disappeared.
Rather than believing her story, Bathurst police accused her of lying to cover for Jessica running away. It would take ten years before her case was fully investigated and when it was authorities found a lot of evidence and witnesses that had been previously ignored.
Sources:
“Disappearance and Suspected Murder of Jessica Small” - NSW Police
“Silent Streets Freeze Abduction Search” - Jamieson, The Sydney Morning Herald
“In the Night, Another Country Girl Goes Missing” - Overington, The Age
“Another Teenager Abducted in NSW” - Jamieson, The Age
“Jessica Small inquest: man had interest in teen girls, say witnesses” - Carroll, Western Advocate
“Cold case detectives arrest NSW man over teen rapes” - 9 News
“Jessica Small: The unsolved Bathurst hitch-hiker murder” - Jolly, News.com.au
“I Think My Jessica is Dead” - Hannan, The Sydney Morning Herald
“Girl Abducted as Friend, 15, Breaks Free” - Jamieson, The Sydney Morning Herald
“Man Seen Cruising Prior to Abduction” - Jamieson, The Sydney Morning Herald
“Police charge man over historical sexual assaults of teenage girl in Bathurst area” - Mirage News
“Jessica Small: The unsolved Bathurst hitch-hiker murder” - Jolly, NZ Herald
“Inquest into the Disappearance and Suspected Death of Jessica Beth Small” - NSW Coroner’s Court