More than 50 new Crimestopper leads into the 1978 Spear Creek murders have investigators from the Cold Case Investigation Team and the Mount Isa Criminal Investigation Branch busy this week.
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Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell of the Cold Case Team said many were good leads, others are things they already know.
"When a significant event happens, people do remember, so just because its 40 years on doesn't mean that people have forgotten," Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said.
Detectives are appealing to anyone who may be able to identify the driver of a two-tone brown and white coloured long wheel drive Toyota Landcruiser seen at Moondarra Caravan Park and also anyone who can identify the fourth person who met the group on their trip from Alice Springs to Mount Isa.
"We are also wanting to learn more about Tim Thomson's red BMW motorbike being seen around the city and the local Mount Isa man who was arrested for stealing the motorcycle," she said.
"If you haven't come forward with any information before, come forward now."
Karen Edwards (23), Tim Thompson (31) and Gordon Twaddle (21) were last seen alive leaving the Moondarra Caravan Park in Mount Isa with a man in a brown and white Toyota Landcruiser on the morning of Thursday, October 5, 1978.
"This was the second time that vehicle had attended the caravan park and the last time the three travellers were seen," Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said.
"The third time was to come back and clean out the camp site."
The items from the campsite were found at the Mount Isa dump the following day, including Tristie the Doberman, which was still alive.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
September 30, 1978
Karen arrived in Alice Springs and the group left on Monday October 2, 1978
October 2, 1978
It is believed the trio stopped at Aileron then camped overnight at Ti Tree in the Northern Territory.
October 3, 1978
The trio stopped at Wauchope, Devils Marbles, The Three Ways, Frewena before camping overnight at Barry Caves in the NT.
They met up with another male cyclist between The Three Ways and Frewena and this person travelled with them and camped with the group at Barry Caves.
October 4, 1978
It is believed this person travelled with the group to Mount Isa. Karen, Tim and Gordon checked into the Moondarra Caravan Park in the afternoon, paying for two nights and setting up their tents and campsite.
That evening, a fourth person attended the campsite in the Toyota Landcruiser.
The three victims were last seen leaving Moondarra Caravan park on the morning of Thursday October 5.
The Toyota Landcruiser returned later that afternoon and a male voice was heard calling for Tim's doberman, Tristie.
October 6, 1978 at 6.30am Tristie was located, abandoned, at the Mount Isa dump by staff.
The trio were not seen again until their bodies were discovered on October 24, 1978.
October 30, 1978
Karen, Tim and gordon's helmets, jacketsm gloves, tents and other property were located at the Mount Isa Dump.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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