Police offer $1m reward for information into disappearance of Eloise Worledge, 8, in 50-year-old cold case mystery

Police have offered a massive $1m reward for information related to the mysterious cold case disappearance of an eight-year-old Melbourne girl who vanished from her bed 50 years ago.

Eloise Worledge was the eldest of three children and was last seen in her bedroom at her family’s home on Scott St, Beaumaris, in Melbourne’s southeast, about 11.40pm on January 12, 1976.

When her family woke the following morning, she was missing.

Her parents found the flyscreen on her bedroom window had been cut and opened, with nothing else disturbed, and immediately reported her disappearance to police.

Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan, from Victoria Police’s Missing Persons Squad, said on Tuesday the disappearance had been treated as suspicious from the outset.

“An eight-year-old child can’t disappear and look after themselves in the community and leave no trace,” Inspector Dunstan said.

It sparked one of Victoria’s largest search operations involving more than 250 officers who canvassed over 6000 properties, nearby suburbs, parks, reserves, vacant properties and the foreshore around Beaumaris over 18 days.

No trace of Eloise was ever found.

Detectives have spoken with thousands of people interviewing family, friends, neighbours and school contacts multiple times and followed up information over the past 50 years, but no evidence has ever explained their girl’s disappearance or those responsible.

An ongoing task force, coronial inquest and cold case review have led authorities to believe Eloise is dead and murdered.

Speaking at a press conference, Inspector Dunstan said the $1m reward was unique in Victoria, as it could be paid for information leading to the recovery of Eloise’s remains, not just the identification and conviction of those responsible.

“This is the only reward of its kind in Victoria,” he said.

“Usually rewards are offered for the identification and conviction of the offender. We’re also offering this reward for information that leads to the recovery of Eloise’s remains.”

He said a $10,000 reward was offered shortly after Eloise disappeared, but police hoped the increased amount – announced on the 50th anniversary of her disappearance – would encourage someone to come forward.

“Fifty years is a long time, but it’s not too long for someone to come forward,” he said.

“People will know what’s happened. Allegiances change, partners change, and we’re hoping this announcement will allow people to tell us what they know.”

Inspector Dunstan said Eloise would have been 58 years old today.

“She’s missed out on growing up, and her family has missed her every single one of those days,” he said.

He also addressed longstanding speculation surrounding the case, making it clear police had never found evidence implicating Eloise’s parents.

The case was reinvestigated by the Homicide Squad in the early 2000s, with a renewed public appeal, forensic testing of available material and interviews with a number of persons of interest.

A 2003 coronial inquest was unable to determine who was responsible and returned an open finding.

In 2023, the Missing Persons Squad conducted another review, partly linked to a separate investigation into alleged historical sexual offending at Beaumaris Primary School, which Eloise attended.

Police were unable to establish any link between the two matters.

Asked whether there were currently any suspects, Inspector Dunstan said there was “no credible information or evidence to suggest any particular person” was responsible, but stressed police remained open to any new information from the community.

“This has been an extensive investigation spanning five decades,” he said.

“No stone has been left unturned … but if you do know something, please do the right thing and come forward.”

He said rewards had successfully led to breakthroughs in other cases and urged anyone with credible information to contact Crime Stoppers.

The $1m reward will be paid at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner and can be claimed even if the information provider is not seeking a conviction, with legal considerations to be assessed by the Director of Public Prosecutions if required.

In a statement, Eloise’s surviving family said their lives had been changed forever by their beloved sister’s disappearance.

They asked for privacy as they deal with the anguish of the 50th anniversary of their sister’s disappearance.

“My memories of waking up to find her missing are still very vivid and raw and the passage of time has not eased the pain of this loss,” her family said.

“Ella was and remains deeply loved, she was more than a missing person or a case file – she was a daughter, a sister, a friend, someone who mattered greatly to all who knew her.

“The ongoing public interest and constant suspicion surrounding my family – found to be unsubstantiated more than once – caused a lifetime of immense grief and pain.

“Despite this, somehow, we managed to find our own peace, however the anniversary brings up a multitude of emotions and causes a great deal of distress yet again.”