Vanished without a trace: The disappearance of teenager Ursula Barwick | Australian Story

Ursula Barwick was 17 years old when she vanished without a trace.
Her family dropped her to the train station on the NSW Central Coast in Spring 1987. She was headed to Sydney to start a new job and was to call when she got there. But that phone call never came.
Desperate and worried, Peter Barwick reported his daughter missing but police at the time failed to prioritise the case. Friends and family were not interviewed and potential leads were missed.
For the next three decades, those closest to Ursula lived with an enduring heartache, not knowing if she was dead or alive.
When Ursula's fate was finally discovered by two new detectives in 2016, it raised uncomfortable questions for NSW Police as to why her disappearance had gone unsolved for so long.
Watch the 2021 follow-up Australian Story here: bit.ly/3u8830q
#AustralianStory #TrueCrime #AustralianTrueCrime #UrsulaBarwick
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Putting the "real" back into reality television, Australian Story is an award-winning documentary series with no narrator and no agendas - just authentic stories told entirely in people's own words. Take 30 minutes to immerse yourself in the life of an extraordinary Australian. They're sometimes high profile, sometimes controversial, but always compelling. It’s television guaranteed to make you think and feel. New episodes are available every Monday.

[@momsterous]

Wow! After putting the family through all that, they then lose the body somewhere in a cemetery. That's an absolutely disgusting abandonment of duty. That there is a wall of 20 names of people just dumped in the cemetery - burial place unknown - is inexcusable.

[@loralove182]

so prescious that her brother wanted to become a police man so he can help find his sister

[@fatherthomas1575]

Kids: Dont ever become a car ride hostage. Once you get in , you cant get out. Just say NO.

[@wordivore]

Good advice. I can't believe how fam and friends just waved it off like, "Oh it could've been anybody driving that car." Um, yeah, someone else more responsible, not driving so fast on cruise control. And a head on no less. How does that happen unless someone is driving on the wrong side. And the woman says she's not mad or doesn't blame the driver. Was that not vehicular homicide??? Idk, just asking. It's something if someone isn't driving in a safe manner and that someone's actions lead to a person's death.

[@laurametheny1008]

@@wordivore Agreed but...it starts with the fact that they stole the car in the first place. So probably everything else natural and sensible for those joyriders goes out the window. Since that was a dishonest act you know, why be truthful about anything else? IDK. Very very sad and such a waste for all involved.💔

[@MissSpaz]

@@laurametheny1008 "Why be truthful about anything else?" Wow. You make it seem like they killed her on purpose. Your attitude is gross. Teenagers do stupid shit. Especially when they've just left home and aren't under the close supervision of their parents anymore.

[@BrittMFH]

@@MissSpaz Not all teenagers.

[@Starwithnonname]

Britt H bh

[@wadekelly5846]

Anyone reading the comments if I may could I ask that you watch the Vanishing of Madison Scott , my niece who has been missing since may of 2011.please keep her face in your mind and help us find her. Thank you

[@DrSuess-tl7ln]

😢❤ Madison Scott

[@manichairdo6346]

I've just watched an interview with your niece's parents. The trauma clearly still deep and raw. I read several very concerning comments, therefore, I hope that those around at the time will be interviewed by police...again.

[@fatpinkteddy]

Wade Kelly I will watch it

[@happydolly12]

Madison Scott have watched a few documentaries on her disappearance, Everyone who was there that night needs to be investigated again and again, some one knows something..I do hope for the family they find out and where she is..❤

[@bobjolly7795]

I'm so sorry it must be torture not knowing where she is..... I will watch the program

[@donnacousparis2781]

I look back. I packed up my car at 21 and went from Iowa to Oklahoma for a job I accepted with letters. Told parents I would call when I got there. I had to live in the YWCA because no one would rent a decent apt to a single girl. My parents had to come and vouch for me. A lonely time and anything could have happened.

[@neweverymorningmercy3491]

My heart goes out to the family and friends...they never gave up on her...she truly was loved by very good people. She had a beautiful smile, such warmth.

[@lindaross4331]

You'd think the cemetary would keep better records of where they bury people.

[@melissadyson161]

linda pommerenke I volunteer with a local family history group. It is mind blowing finding out how badly kept records are of where people are buried

[@alison2649]

There apparently needs to be laws put in place holding these cemeteries to accountability. And the way restaurants have to be monitored,permits,inspections,etc SO SHOULD these cemeteries! Outrageous! During the Damn inspections they must show their paperwork and this problem would be done & over! Wow I’m appalled by the incompetence.

[@MissFunkyH]

@Cheryl leanne I was indeed surprised to learn that the lot my family owns is only ''alotted'' for 90 years. It means that my nephew who's only 1 y/o right now, will have to renew the payment when he's older and we're all dead. It's so... dark to think about this but in the same time, what do they do with the bodies when the families can't pay anymore?

[@armpitfuzz]

I cannot believe they buried a body without keeping records, My Nan die in the 60's and the grave wasn't marked. I will never forget my dad sat in him arm chair sobbing because he couldn't find his mother's grave. My dad passed away in 2008, I went down to the crematorium, were all the records are kept & within half an hour I found my Nan's grave. I place a flower pot on the grave every Christmas on behalf of my dad, I just whish I had done this when he was alive.

[@kingayy9267]

Hopefully your father is reunited with his mother now And proud of you for finding her resting place

[@armpitfuzz]

@@kingayy9267 Thank you, that is very kind of you.

[@lang-ed3bk]

wow, if you can find it within half an hour, then that place didn't put any effort at all

[@estiasolana]

Sad this family had to go years wondering what happened to their daughter. She was a beautiful young lady! I pray the police and detectives investigating missing persons have learned and corrected the things that went wrong in this case. God bless her family and give them peace! 😪🙏🌷

[@lucysphotosfromar]

How a few small errors can spread into such a huge mistake. I feel so sad for this family. And the many unknown families that have suffered this same kind of ineptitude from either overwhelmed or incompetent law enforcement practices. Here's hoping more care can be taken in the future.

[@reinamatheny9972]

This has got to stop~ authorities viewing anyone as unworthy of common courtesy or dignity~ finding families and showing compassion to these people needs to be addressed. :(

[@katyap.8404]

Poor father, whole family was suffering for 30 years, it's just horrible.

[@crystalclear7984]

My god,the things that people go through!

[@sylviakoziarski4912]

17 years old? You are not as tough as you think you are.

[@Wowwwzaaa]

sylvia koziarski I wouldn’t have let my daughter go..I would have spoken with her and she wasn’t 18 yet! I was thinking did dad think ‘yeah shes too much trouble, ok I’ll let her go to Sydney” her mum needed a break from her , so I am thinking dad wanted her to leave too.. just saying.

[@manichairdo6346]

@@Wowwwzaaa In my country 16 is the age where parental consent is not needed for anything. What is it in Australia?

[@listentoyourintuitionnotyo2517]

I know lock up your girls for aslong as you can!

[@sylviakoziarski4912]

@zadose I know many women who have made it on their own they stay away from places they should not be in.. Possibly the young women who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time may have made it themselves. Some that don't were very upstanding citizens. The one that don't are ones who end up in the bar scene and things go on from there.. Time to teach yourself and kids self protection.

[@itsreallyrona]

Not tough enough to withstand a head on with a truck maybe. Otherwise they can do heaps of tough things. Ursula sounded very confident!

[@patriciakelly69]

What a sad situation to worry all those years when the answer was so near. It’s very sad that this young girl was buried and they don’t even know where in the cemetery she is. The fact that they have closure cannot bring back those years of sadness that they felt. Her poor mother died not knowing. God rest her soul and I hope this family can have the peace they so deserve. X

[@nikiTricoteuse]

I'm glad she was finally found and relieved that her death, although still tragic, was accidental. Very sad that the initial police 'work' was so shoddy. I absolutely don't understand why the John and Jane Does have been buried in unmarked unlocatable graves though, seems cruel and unnecessary.

[@Anna-iz1tt]

It makes me wonder as well where poor people are buried when they don't have funeral coverage or insurance, that is known non-missing poor or low income people. What do they do with their bodies when relatives don't claim them because they don't want to pay the costs or have the money for burial. How many people in North America are buried in mass unmarked graves with no records kept of where their bodies are.

[@emilywiltshire3175]

yeah I agree, when dna was available why on earth wasn't it taken =/

[@valiantsfelinesmccarty6678]

That doesn't even make sense in the United States o Jane Doe's and John Dough's are marked in Mark numbered Graves usually stacked 6 deep that way when they need that body they're able to go and get it is very specific if it comes out of the city morgue. And pretty much most places other than the South I hate to say I run that way. Because you never know when you might be able to identify the person or associate that body with a killer.

[@joesmith9617]

Keep some kind of record surely

[@nikiTricoteuse]

@@joesmith9617 That's what l assumed too. It's seems unbelievable and unspeakably tragic that nothing was marked and no location records kept but, that's apparently what they did.

[@JustMe-ww6fi]

What a heartbreaking story ..to think their pain and suffering could've been relieved years earlier ...my sympathies

[@kristaalex7937]

Its great your channel is doing stories on Australia missing persons. It keeps the storey alive and so many ppl go missing everyday. Keep the great work up ❤❤❤

[@SusanaXpeace2u]

That is so sad. I was 17 in 1987. Life is only beginning. Ursula/Jessie missed out on a great life with her lovely family and friends

[@krmccarrell]

God bless all of you for your sorrow and determination to find Ursula. I feel her spirit lives on with you. But the anger! I don't know how you have dealt with the anger. I am so riled up myself just watching your story! As a tourist in NSW, I had a run in with the police, that left me deciding that they were lazy, misogynistic, dismissive, and very much a boy's club. I hope that they have delivered on their promises to clean it up and establish a "separate stand-alone unit" for the missing. You can be proud of that. Best wishes for your journey forward.

[@pedaldownpetalsup]

if the police looked and followed a standard procedure that was practical then perhaps it would not have been 30 years of pure pain. No answer on where your daughter is for that long, a parent's any family member or friend's heart is beyond broken. The point of this story is to shine a light on the careless nature of mistakes and a poor procedure by police. Jessica died with no surname you DON'T NEED A DEGREE to logically think... "ok let us look in missing persons for a Jessica or Jessica look alike." FOR AN ENQUIRY TO FIND LOGIC CONCERNS ME HOW low Australians can be.

[@thewideawakeclub4843]

Birdie Berger I personally think the police just couldn’t be arsed to do anything. They wanted to close case and go home. Just a gut feeling.

[@TONIjade_xx]

@Brenda Shaver exactly 👍🏾💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@sdannecker6944]

I can’t imagine my child going missing. How awful.

[@sunkissedlotus]

Glad the family got closure, sadly. I couldn't imagine the pain.

[@Guppyg53]

"To serve and protect" but only if you feel like it -Police

[@Starwithnonname]

you have the luxury of hindsight and absolutely no idea what the workload of police officers was or is. What incredible arrogance to be on the keyboard being high and mighty and self righteous with your uninformed opinion.

[@Hannah-ks4mi]

@@Starwithnonname Maybe, but cross checking missing persons with accident victims who have no formal identification on them is elementary don't you think?

[@LilyAmongThorns]

Hannah who said they never did? Ursula went by Jessie so the people that reported her death in her accident said Jessie was her name, not Ursula. I can see that being a huge hindrance in an investigation that was one of a hundred other investigations all vying for police attention.

[@Starwithnonname]

Hannah I agree to some extent, but given that she chose to exist under an assumed identity with no form of identification, and didn’t communicate this fact to her parents or friends - it was going to cause huge problems to a probably already overworked and under resourced police force. We have the luxury of hindsight - but sadly, the choices she made contributed to her demise and the difficulties afterwards.

[@spiralm8667]

yep our police are corrupt globalist watchdogs. real crime no. wrongthink yes. that their crime priorities

[@imogenoneill1017]

This is absolutely heartbreaking, I cried, an unimaginable pain for the family.

[@shantibel]

Terribly, terribly sad.

[@enjoyyoursleep1]

A very sad, but brilliantly made documentary. For those who have family members missing, never stop loving them and never stop looking. I myself don't have any missing family members, but family is all we have in the end. - peace

[@marilynfranklin8924]

This story breaks my heart, but why can they not know where there daughter is buried? Why can this not be found?

[@Monk-eee2]

The thing I love the most is the dedication of this family to find her no matter what, 27 yrs later!!! It's so beautiful,they are such a close loving family. Wish I had that. This was all put together so tastefully. Just the never really knowing is what would haunt me.. may your soul be in peace beautiful angel 💜🧚‍♀️🦋💐

[@marktwain368]

And yet one constable made it his mission to find her and he did! Understand that there are those with deep commitment and compassion on the police forces. God bless them!

[@katestruth6396]

When you change your name, it's hard for police to keep track of you. That's why people do it. A very sad story :(

[@Wowwwzaaa]

Kate Struth I wanna know why she changed it?

[@momsterous]

She didn't change it. She assumed it. Had she started a job or such, it would've been under her real name. It was pure fantasy that a daughter would be named Jessica one day, so that's what she told her new friends.

[@ohmusicsweetmusic]

@@Wowwwzaaa wouldn't you if your name was "Ursula?"

[@MarkMark-ji6ts]

Exactly what we're the parents thinking.

[@miaomiaochan]

Though such cases are horribly tragic, I can understand if a person who has either lost contact with or outlived family and friends dies alone and is buried in a pauper's grave. Ursula wasn't one of them. She had living family and friends who had been actively searching for her for years, and yet she still ends up in a morgue freezer for 15 months before being buried as a Jane Doe in an unmarked grave - all because the police assumed she ran away and thus didn't spend much time on her case. It's disturbing to think of how many missing people could have been found alive or identified had the police had the resources and the willingness to pursue their cases. Thousands upon thousands.

[@karenc9079]

This story made me feel so sad and still leaves me wanting to know even more questions. I grew up in the same small town and didn't know anything about the case, although in 1987 I was only nine.

[@2outta3aintbad96]

This is way it is so important to have and carry I.D

[@marycull3607]

Yes but if you don't want to be found, you are not going to carry your own ID. Usually if if people don't want to be found, they will use false names. Such a painful Story.

[@2outta3aintbad96]

@@marycull3607 We have DNA now so hopefully that will be stored when an Unknown person is deceased . But it really is weird as to why she felt the need to hide. I really believe she was lured, with promises that would have never happened. The accident was a fluke and her ID was hidden so there would be no recourse.

[@lucyk2371]

Your an adult at 17 in Sydney? That's too young to be on your own in a large city. I was so naive and trusting at that age...omg

[@MindyBeee]

Was a long time ago

[@kazwhymark3165]

This poor family suffered so much it’s absolutely disgusting My heart 💔 broke for them i know the pain because i’ve lost my beautiful daughter and it changes your whole life Sending love light strength peace prayer’s and lot’s of hug’s god bless Thinking of you KAZ 🇬🇧💔😢😭😢😭😭😢😭😭😭😭😢😭

[@outlawJosieFox]

They didn t want to spend the time and money that's why.

[@AwfulDog1]

before the computer era this sort of cross-checking would have been much harder, esp with a different name and the body found in another part of NSW.

[@spiralm8667]

yes true, but we had privacy. now the government sniffs our farts and community vigilance and morality and responsibility is all gone

[@gimmesometruth9507]

But she ended up in the Sydney morgue, so how hard would it be?

[@elliebellie7816]

@@gimmesometruth9507 I imagine many young unidentified (or in this case, improperly identified) females have ended up in the Sydney morgue. Even back then. And things were different back then. People weren't constantly in contact with each other via social media and a lot of things still happened via letter writing and other hand-printed records. I would guess "young, blonde, blue-eyed" could've matched at least 4-5 other missing young ladies at the time.

[@aussiephotographer]

Incredible story. Thank you for this. So very sad. Rest In Peace Ursula.

[@madeleine8977]

I feel so very sorry for her family who had to live with this so long. It is just tragic when there are no answers for the family.

[@tetsuan25]

I work in Government and it amazes me of the level of incompetence that still exists especially in the Police force

[@jenniferanderson9402]

I would think the morgue and hospital would be the first place you look for a missing person? How can they justify not making that connection and leaving bodies unclaimed for so long?

[@judymccoy5204]

So long and so sad for the family but hopefully lessons have been learned and corrections will improve procedures in the future.

[@ohmusicsweetmusic]

So of course my first question was how does a 17 year old kid get sent from their mother's house to their dad and stepmom's house only to be freely set free on a train to leave forever to a big city without any bother or help? I was like, wait a minute there has got to be more to the story. Sure enough she was pregnant. Her Mom knew and that is why she sent her down to her dad's house because she feared for her daughter's reputation and well being about to be a teenage mother. Ursula promised two people to absolute secrecy, her mother and her sister. So I believe Ursula said she would tell her Dad and step-mom when she got there. Unable to do so feeling ashamed and embarrassed and turning 17, she suddenly left before she started to show. Her Mom and her aunt were expecting to see her soon but with her baby and that never happened because obviously she got an abortion right away when she got to the big city. Totally traumatized by all of that and ready to start a new life and not be found by her mother and aunt who she did not want to face after getting an abortion, she started going by a different name making new friends and starting her life over. Unfortunately her secrecy back in the days before the internet made her impossible to identify. So it's not so much the police' fault as everyone claims. Amazing what happens when you stop a video and actually read everything they are showing. I respect the family for not bringing the pregnancy into the story to save their loved ones reputation, but it does happen to be a very important fact behind her disappearance. The danger with these shows is that they do have the power to change things, but when the public doesn't have all the facts it can cause things to go awry. The police really did the best they could and do not deserve such harsh judgement. It's not like we have identification stamped on our backsides. I wonder if even the police know to this day that she was pregnant.

[@Velts125]

Interesting. Assuming your information is correct. A young dead girl lay in a Sydney morgue for 15 months, identified as "Jessica" by 3 blokes from the car crash and and only knew her for a couple of weeks. How was the missing persons report not matched up with a body of a YOUNG girl laying in the morgue unclaimed for 15 months and no positive I.D. She was young, and the 3 blokes from the car wreck would have known she was not a foreigner by her accent. And no one is curious enough to check missing persons files as to why Jessica was not missed by anyone.

[@maritfaye212]

That poor father and all whom has lost their love ones 💔💔💔

[@marthaalexander4441]

Why did she change her name? And didn’t call when she got there?

[@brianrodney712]

When she met the kind of young men who showed her a ' lively ' time by riding around in stolen cars, she quickly forgot about her ' dull ' family back home.

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Good question. One of the documents listed her occupation as “dancer”. While that could have just meant go go dancer, she might have been stripping. If it was the latter maybe she changed her name so her family wouldn’t know? Or maybe she just hated the name Ursula 🤷‍♀️

[@suzypatras]

Absolutely not trying to blame the victim & feel very sorry for the family but if my kid went to live at a new location, I would want to know where she/he was staying, where they were working, what they were doing with their days, how they were paying for things ... did they need some extra money, had they made any connections ? I would have started to panic if I heard nothing after 10 hours of them due to arrive at their new location. Why did it take so long to raise the alarm & show concern ? She was only 17, she was still a minor in the eyes of the law. So many questions ??? This young girl was just left ... to her own devices, so sad for many reasons.

[@jkjist]

@@SByoutube123I read that she lied about the job. She seems to be a very unsavoury person, I feel for her family though

[@jenniferroya3606]

S B yes it was more common back then. There were no mobiles of course & young people were more independent than now.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

There absolutely needs to be a legal duty of care places upon police. This should never happen again nor should this be allowed to continue unquestioned. As someone that grew up very close to Quirindi, I would like to pass on my best wishes to Ursula’s family and friends. May your hearts be filled with the joy of the memories that you hold of your loved one and friend. Take care of yourself and each other.❤

[@ambaroabdille6552]

I'm very sorry for her love one I just can't imagine what they went through

[@sopyleecrypt6899]

Incomprehensibly sad and painful to have your child disappear and not know what happened to them for 30 years 😢

[@ritaheilig3575]

Absolutely shocking that they cannot even say where this poor girl is buried. Why Ursula needed to change her name to Jessie is hard to understand. If she had kept her real name she would have been found earlier. Her poor family. Nobody knows if she really had a job in Sidney or was that a made up story to get away from her family. Very very sad her mother died without knowing what happened to her daughter. The whole story is appalling. Nobody was really interested in even trying to find this 17 year old girl.

[@beverleylumb8048]

I can't believe the parents just let a 17 year old girl move to Sydney as though it's the next street. And then they don't report her missing for 2 weeks

[@completorgirl]

Back then 17 was considered an adult. People moved for work at that age. Totally normal

[@elliebellie7816]

Not sure how they could have kept her at home if she was of legal age. And back then, communication wasn't what it is today. People didn't have cell phones and weren't constantly texting and calling, etc.. Two weeks would have been about right to wait for contact back in the 80's.

[@M1985-]

There is always more to the story. Why else does a 17 year old kid just move away. She was hanging around actual criminals, not just some other street kids....

[@Cor_Nelis]

Absolutely disgraceful.

[@poppyfield1619]

This is such a sad story. It makes you think if DNA had been taken from Ursula (Jess), at the time, her family would have been traced. However I understand that forensics have come on hugely since the 1980's and DNA profiling was in it's infancy then. RIP Ursula ❣🥀

[@jane-marie3289]

17:38, they call someone who's 5'7 and 155 lbs obese?

[@brandonsm6023]

Back in the days people we’re very skinny, now a days it is considered a normal weight.

[@nicoles7800]

I am so very sorry for this family. So sad.

[@1225pong]

gosh, this program should be called "what lousy jobs done by Australia police that mess your life"!

[@lesleyvass8739]

Startling mismanagement at every level from the outset.

[@MarkMark-ji6ts]

To be fair if she had kept her name it would have been solved. But moving out and representing herself as Jessica and without ID

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

OMG what this poor family went through was awful.

[@listentoyourintuitionnotyo2517]

Don't want to offend anyone but WTF how does this happen????

[@louiseharraway2599]

Why did Ursula change her name? Why did she never get in touch with her family after she left. If it was 3 weeks she had been missing, before her death, why did she never get in touch.?

[@leannemo7382]

Ursula *chose* not to contact her parents for several weeks when she was fine. She had dropped out of school, was living a promiscuous life as a "dancer" in the city, under a fake name and with new risk-taking friends. So when she was killed while riding in a stolen car, it made it more difficult for police to identify her. I feel sorry for her family; it's too bad the connection wasn't made sooner.

[@user-qt1le6ih6i]

Living a promiscuous life as a dancer? She was 17. Not every 17 year old girl is promiscuous and I don't believe Ursula was. Oftentimes young girls are just trying to make sense of the world, of who they are and what they want. She was described by one of the people in the car as 'innocent'. She had a boyfriend because that's what most 17 year old girls believe society expects from them. She didn't feel she fitted in and tried hard to fit in, not realising that it's okay not to fit in with society's demands. That it's okay to be yourself. By stating that Ursula CHOSE not to contact her parents, is to subtlely suggest that she deserved what happened to her. We all make poor choices in life but that in no way means that we therefore always deserve the bad stuff that happens. None of us can see into our own futures.

[@lesliemiles4053]

One of the best comments. At some point the truth is the truth. Sleeping around in High School was stated!

[@MindyBeee]

@@lesliemiles4053 Ah STFU

[@MindyBeee]

Leanne...get a grip ffs

[@MindyBeee]

@@user-qt1le6ih6i Beautifully stated

[@beckyhofheinz6357]

This broke my heart! I can't imagine not knowing where my child is buried!

[@revanth3508]

Why did she not contact her family for 3 weeks ? Why did she change her name ?

[@MissSpaz]

She didn't change her name? It sounds like she was just using an alias. And the police should've figured that out when they couldn't contact her family. As for not contacting her family right away- well, she was 17 and was probably excited to be on her own. When I was 17 I wasn't the best about getting in contact with my mom.

[@revanth3508]

Miss Spaz not to contact your parents for 3 weeks unfortunately borders on cruelty. She didn’t use her real name when she moved away and I wonder why . Maybe she didn’t want to be contacted for some reason

[@spiralm8667]

@@revanth3508 My family is very loving, but we can go months without contact. it's not quantity but quality.

[@user-qt1le6ih6i]

@@revanth3508 She wasn't cruel. Most 17 year olds want to act grown up. They don't think about contacting family, not because they're cruel but because they're trying to make a statement. They're saying "I want independence. I want autonomy. I want to figure life out on my own terms".

[@revanth3508]

Sara having gone past the age of 17 I know that what you have said does not apply to all 17 year olds who live their parents . It’s utter callousness to put your parents through the agony and worry of not knowing where you are and if you are safe

[@TheCrazyNinjaChick]

Gosh, it is sad seeing her headstone and seeing that she had two brother who have died :(

[@wisequeens]

she changed her name that was the begining of the mess..

[@ohmusicsweetmusic]

you would too if you had self esteem issues and found yourself in a new city trying to make friends and your name was "Ursula."

[@nicholasdenton3888]

What an amazing story! Thank you so much for sharing it! I’m so sorry for your loss!

[@kimberlycook4554]

So sad that Ursulas mother died before she knew the truth. The Police really mucked this up! They should all be so ashamed.

[@melissanelson2849]

God bless you guys because you’re wonderful family 👼👼

[@Partyinglikeits1999]

so she moved to Sydney and then died 3 weeks later. Why didnt she contact her family like she said she would. It doesnt sound like she had a job lined up at all. Just wanted to be anonymous, new name and playing pool and hanging out with a boyfriend which the parents knew nothing about. So sad for the parents who were looking for her in those 3 weeks while she was hanging out with no hopers who steal a car and go for a joyride. No good could come of this......and it didnt.

[@notthedoctor8621]

Maybe this family wasn't as good a d as close as they claim

[@yogadork3943]

Surely the town council has a plot number where Ursula was buried?A sad story.

[@gripitl6878]

Heartbreaking 😞

[@tonyclack5901]

the question no one asked is why she changed her name and why she never called home the minute she got to sydney, this is indicative of someone who wanted to move on from her old life and never look back.

[@ggurks]

I thought the very same! Nobody is wondering why she lived there for 3 weeks and didn't bother to tell her family although she promised to do so. Seems like she didn't want any contact with her family at that time

[@MindyBeee]

We all do stupid stuff when we are young. Come on!

[@tonyclack5901]

@@MindyBeee No one mentioned stupid. I don't think it is unreasonable to contact your parents at some time if you run away and tell no one. As a parent I would be beside myself if my daughter did this with no explanation.

[@hollymorgan3323]

Why as a parent, would you let a 17 y/o travel to a strange city without going with them and helping them find accommodation, just saying

[@keshaponso2034]

That was my exact thought. I feel bad for them, I've never lost a daughter so I have no idea what they're going through. But poeple in the doco having a go at the cops. I mean they're the ones who's daughter moved without contacting or a forwarding address.. They didnt report her missing til a significant time later. I don't know how you want an investigator.. she was there for three weeks without making any contact with her family.. she changed her name.. wasnt carrying her ID with her. In a time before internet, CCTV, mobiles they would have only had blood types and finger prints to go off. Putting two and two together for two seperate cases of an accident victim and then a missing person is a bit of a stetch. They're seperate departments without access to the national database. I'm not one to stand up for cops and have had my run ins with many corupt ones.. but there are good ones that actually care. But they have bosses and budgets to stick to. Investigating is tiring, tedious and time consuming. Insrtead of total banket blame the family need to look at what they could've done differently. I'm honestly not a huge fan of police.. but poeple in these comments are being quite duely unfair.

[@emiliagladwell9691]

it was the 80s, at that time there was a lot more trust. of course, it was a foolish mistake but at that time, it wasn't unusual.

[@ohmusicsweetmusic]

Yes, i was thinking the exact same thing thinking, wait a minute there has got to be more to the story. Sure enough she was pregnant. Her Mom knew and that is why she sent her down to her dad's house because she feared for her daughter's reputation and well being being a teenage mother. She promised two people to absolute secrecy, her mother and her aunt(?) (the blonde lady with the letter - it says it right there if you pause it). So I think Ursula said she would tell her Dad and step-mom when she got there. Unable to do so feeling ashamed and embarrassed and turning 17, she suddenly left before she started to show. Her Mom and her aunt were expecting to see her soon but with her baby and that never happened because obviously she got an abortion right away when she got to the big city. Totally traumatized by all of that and ready to start a new life and not be found by her mother and aunt who she did not want to face after getting an abortion, she started going by a different name making new friends and starting her life over. Unfortunately her secrecy back in the days before the internet made her impossible to identify. So it's not so much the police' fault as everyone claims. Amazing what happens when you stop a video and actually read everything they are showing.

[@jeangreenfield5993]

Is the missing persons investigation situation bad in all countries ? Makes you wonder. Needs more money & staff .

[@LinzStopMotion]

Well they are never gonna get that under the current government :)

[@notthedoctor8621]

Many adults who go missing do so willingly

[@featherstone8093]

Shoddy, shameful and incompetent police work all the way around. Horrible for family. Blessings Prayers and Love to her family and friends.

[@annettetibbey8044]

Bad police duties. Disgusting

[@cynthiahunt371]

Unbelievable how the missing persons unit didn't do they're jobs correctly. How would they feel if it were one of they're own....

[@jdonnelly7354]

Their jobs!!!!!!!!!!!! Their own !!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@jaksha86ingerson]

Definitely police need to be held personally responsible for their actions or in actions

[@Noodlepunk]

When someone goes missing call the hospitals, call the morgues.

[@chiasanzes9770]

This is so sad ..

[@Flowergirl2012]

I don’t understand why this is a shock to people we all know that the police have never done their jobs properly.

[@LilyAmongThorns]

Flowergirl2012 it’s easy to criticize, but I think with their workloads they do what they can. Sure there are “bad cops” just as there are terrible people in every job and profession, but I think it is a huge mistake to broad brush all policemen as horrible people not doing their jobs. Please think this through a bit better before making such careless remarks or you yourself are guilty of the sloppiness you are accusing the police of being.

[@Starwithnonname]

What a silly thoughtless comment. Another keyboard warrior that has no idea, except likes to voice her comments from her armchair without knowing their workload.

[@dowphantom3792]

I don't think you can blame the cops on this one ,as much a I think majority of cops are corrupt it has nothingto do with that it was work load and only being given so much time to investigate files, before they are told to drop it and move on to other more pressing crimes and files , and really it didn't help anything that she changed her name and no one knew that, because all the people that new her as Jess just met her and the rest were looking for Ursula , so in reality it was her own doing that stalled the investigation , but im glad they finally got the pieces together and actually I think it was amazing police work that got this solved

[@AwfulDog1]

some do, some don 't. It isn't fair to blame all of them.

[@sugaredwards6207]

[DOW] Phantom The thing is, the one cop who had a clue, was told not to go forward with their Theory. That sounds like either corruption & negligence to me.

[@fifilamoore1718]

What? 200,000 missing cases , I’m so sorry too every single family that’s just unbelievable wrong !

[@susannaude8514]

Heartbreaking story.

[@brendalilianajerez3488]

I am so very sorry. I will watch it.

[@wowso4]

My condolences to the family, I’m so happy sorry for your loss.

[@jdonnelly7354]

Happy!??

[@joytreichel2282]

That is just so sad 😢

[@kalebarancelovic]

Good thing the police handling this case weren't involved in finding Cleo Smith because she would have never been found

[@whiteraven69]

There should be a committee of citizens that oversees the Police missing cases . This will help Police be accountable for their investigations and would be an excellent way for citizens to help in these cases.

[@joyleenpoortier7496]

So sad RIP beautiful young lady

[@JT-fn4eu]

The government would rather police waste time pulling people over for pathetic driving misdemeanours than actual police work in finding missing persons . I’m pretty positive police joined the force to conduct these investigations for an outcome for the families than finding P plate drivers doing wheelies .

[@justsandra71]

Oh gosh, how sad. Nowhere is safe. Poor girl wouldn't have known anything coming from Quirindi. I lived in the outback n moved to a so called country town, it was like moving to a different country. There are rules here I didn't know, freedom is taken away once you leave n sadly, many lives. Outback living is much easier. R.I.P Ursula ❤🌹

[@Jellybellyirish]

Nowhere is safe? Did you watch this?

[@justsandra71]

@@Jellybellyirish Nar I comment on random videos....... der!

[@sophiamcnamara9851]

How sad the searching, guessing and heartache they went through over 30 years needlessly it's shocking the neglect in the investigation god bless them.

[@r.c.miller6161]

What a classy couple. And loving family. Thankfully they finally got an answer.

[@orangewarm1]

We have cameras everywhere in the UK. It doesnt bother me. The amount of crimes that have been solved.

[@notthedoctor8621]

Not in the eighties

[@sorrenamegan5762]

Rest in peace Ursula. 💜

[@laurametheny1008]

That police and missing persons-especially kids-is an issue pretty much everywhere. Seems like any of these long term ones the first thing is to blow it off because they just ran away. Or the ones who try to say oh they have to be missing for 48hrs. Or 24. I've heard some saying that about a little kid! Like 5 or 6 yrs old. Of course it's not every case and things are somewhat better now, but what this force is doing should be standard. And there are alot of retired people and younger handicapped etc who have the skills and probably would love to help because there are so many. Plenty of keyboard warriors!😈🤔🙏so thankful for this fam who could finally lay their girl to rest....well in the most important sense.💔🇦🇺

[@Anna-iz1tt]

There is no law saying the police have to wait 24 hours to begin searching for a missing person. Even some police believe the MISINFORMATION that they are to wait 24 hours. There IS NO LAW saying that have to wait 24 hours.

[@laurametheny1008]

@@Anna-iz1tt Exactly.

[@Sarah.Riedel]

I wonder why she felt like she needed to change her name...? So sad.

[@notthedoctor8621]

Strange. Maybe the family situation wasn't as good as they claim

[@ggurks]

Would be interesting to hear the story also from the policeman who found her. Maybe he wasn't allowed to speak about the case on tv?

[@MindyBeee]

RIP Ursula 💔🌹☄️✨🌠💫🌟