A reward of $500,000 has been announced by Queensland Police as part of efforts to resolve the unsolved murder of taxi driver Bryan Hodgkinson, who was killed in 1987. Newly discovered DNA evidence has reignited the investigation into this long-standing cold case.
Bryan Hodgkinson, a father of three, was found deceased on September 10, 1987, at around 7:30 am on Goodwood Road, approximately 32 kilometres south of Bundaberg. The 48-year-old had suffered significant injuries, including trauma to his head and throat along with multiple stab wounds.
On the night of his disappearance, Hodgkinson was expected to finish his shift at 1:00 am. He received a taxi fare via radio at 12:31 am for a pickup from the corner of Targo and Burnett Streets in Bundaberg, but it’s unclear if he collected this fare. This radio communication marked the last confirmed sighting of him before he was reported missing by his wife, Elaine, when he failed to return home. His taxi was later found abandoned on Beatrice Street, with no visible damage, but missing keys, a coin dispenser, and some cash.
In 2018, a coronial inquest concluded in the Bundaberg Coroners Court. Despite hearing testimony from numerous witnesses, the coroner could not reach a definitive conclusion regarding the circumstances of Hodgkinson’s death. However, recent advancements in forensic testing of items related to the case have led detectives to believe that vital information remains untapped.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell has emphasised the importance of speaking with the individual who identified themselves as ‘Sykes’ when requesting the taxi on the night of the murder. Investigators are also appealing to anyone who might have seen Hodgkinson’s taxi in the vicinity of Bundaberg’s CBD during the early hours of September 10, 1987.
The reward is intended to encourage anyone with information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder to come forward. The police maintain that there are individuals who possess details about the events surrounding Hodgkinson’s tragic death and are urged to assist in bringing closure to this case.