Police and the daughter of missing woman Kathleen O'Shea continue to appeal to the public for information on the 20th anniversary of her disappearance and suspected murder in 2005.
On 29 December 2005, Ms O'Shea was last seen at Atherton.
She resided in Melbourne and had travelled to Queensland to visit her son in Ravenshoe for the birth of her grandchild.
Ms O'Shea, aged 44 at the time, was reported missing by family on 13 January 2006.
Investigations into Ms O'Shea's movements revealed she had attended a bottle shop at the Atherton Hotel and left in the company of two men.
On the morning of 29 December, Ms O'Shea told a friend she was going to walk into the Ravenshoe town centre and her son Alan would pick her up.
Alan picked her up and drove her to Atherton around midday. She told Alan that she was going to the Atherton Hotel to play pool and visit a friend in Mareeba.
A coronial inquest was held in 2014, in which the Coroner found that Ms O'Shea likely died soon after 29 December 2005 in the Tablelands area.
In March 2024, the Queensland Government announced a $500,000 reward in the hopes of attracting new information to assist police investigations.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Devine from the Tablelands Criminal Investigation Branch said investigations have continued into Ms O'Shea's disappearance, andinvestigators believe someone is responsible for her death.
"For the past twenty years, Christmas reminds the O'Shea family that their mother will not be there to celebrate with them," said Detective Senior Sergeant Devine.
"They do not know why she is not there, or how she came to be missing – these are the questions they live with every day."
"Someone in the community knows why Kathleen O'Shea is missing or has information which may assist police to investigate her disappearance, and the Queensland Government has granted a substantial reward for this information."
Lily Parmenter, daughter of Kathleen O'Shea, said it has been twenty years of heartbreak and wondering what happened.
"Katie was kind, loving and full of life," said Ms Parmenter.
"She deserved so much more than what happened to her. She was taken from us far too soon. And not knowing the full truth has left a hole in our hearts that could never really heal."
"I miss my mum every single day. Her laugh, her smile, her love, her tin whistle, her cooking. All the things that made her who she was."
"If you know anything at all about what happened to Katie in Atherton, come forward. Even the smallest piece of information could finally bring us closer to the truth and justice she deserves."
"20 years is a long time to live with no answers. But I will never stop hoping, never stop fighting, and I will never stop remembering her."
The $500,000 Queensland Government Reward is for information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this murder. The Government reward further offers an opportunity for indemnity against prosecution for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the murder, who first gives such information.
Grabs from Kathleen O'Shea's daughter Lily Parmenter:
https://r2.mypolice.qld.gov.au/uploads/2025/12/22/234423_katie-20-years.mov
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
