It’s a mystery that has haunted Bundaberg for nearly four decades—a crime so brutal and baffling that it still sends a chill down the spine of anyone who remembers it.
Now, with a staggering $500,000 reward on the table, Queensland Police and the Hodgkinson family are hoping that someone, somewhere, holds the missing piece of the puzzle that could finally bring justice for Bryan Hodgkinson.
Bryan Hodgkinson was a familiar face in Bundaberg. A devoted father of three, a loving husband, and a well-known local taxi driver, Bryan was the kind of bloke who made an impression on everyone he met.
But on the night of 9 September 1987, his life was cut short in a way that shocked the entire community.
The night began like any other. Bryan was working his regular shift, due to finish at 1 am. At 12.31 am, he accepted a fare from a passenger who gave the name ‘Sykes’, requesting a pick-up from the corner of Targo and Burnett Streets.
That was the last confirmed contact anyone had with Bryan.
When he failed to return home, his wife Elaine’s concern quickly turned to dread. By 7.30am, she reported him missing.
Not long after, his taxi—Queensland registration T26-053—was found abandoned outside 7 Beatrice Street.
The vehicle was undamaged, but the keys and coin dispenser were missing, as was a sum of money from Bryan’s wallet. These items have never been recovered.
The horror deepened when, at 7.55 am, a man’s body was discovered off Goodwood Road (now Peirson Road), in a remote area about half an hour’s drive from Bundaberg. The road led only to the former Peirson Memorial Home youth facility.
The body was soon identified as Bryan Hodgkinson. He had suffered horrific injuries: trauma to the head and throat, and multiple stab wounds to the abdomen and chest.
Despite more than 170 witness statements, exhaustive police work, and even an arrest in 2009 (which ultimately did not lead to a conviction), the case remains unsolved.
A 2018 coronial inquest failed to identify the killer. For Bryan’s family and for Bundaberg, the pain of not knowing has never faded.
But there is new hope. Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell from the Cold Case Investigation Team says recent advances in forensic science have breathed new life into the investigation.
Police are now appealing directly to the public, especially anyone who may have seen Bryan’s taxi travelling in or out of Bundaberg in the early hours of 10 September 1987, or who remembers being in a taxi that night but has never come forward.
Credit: Queensland Police Service / Facebook
Crucially, police are also seeking to speak with the person who called Bundaberg Taxis at 12.31 am under the name ‘Sykes’. Was this a real name or a pseudonym? Could this person hold the key to the case?
The Queensland Government is offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Bryan’s murder.
In a bold move, they’re also offering potential immunity from prosecution to any accomplice (who is not the killer) who comes forward first with vital information.
If you were in Bundaberg on the night of 9-10 September 1987, or if you’ve heard something over the years—no matter how small or seemingly insignificant—now is the time to speak up. Even the tiniest detail could be the breakthrough detectives need.
You can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au. Your information could finally bring peace to a grieving family, closure to a community, and justice for Bryan Hodgkinson.
Have you lived through a local mystery or cold case that’s stuck with you? Do you remember the night Bryan Hodgkinson was killed, or have you heard stories about it over the years? We’d love to hear your thoughts and memories in the comments below. Sometimes, sharing what you know can make all the difference.
Also read: Families on edge: Could a killer be released soon? Find out what the police are saying
