Forty years after the disappearance of Walgett resident Roxlyn Bowie, husband John Bowie has been found guilty for her murder in a jury deliberation that took less than five hours. 

While Walgett locals who recall Mrs Bowie's disappearance may have thought her missing person's case was long closed, 72-year-old John Bowie finally stood trial on October 31 after denying any involvement in her disappearance since the incident on June 5, 1982. 

Throughout more than four weeks of the trial, the court heard compelling evidence including a letter from Mrs Morris to her parents just weeks before her disappearance, reading “I hope I live to see my kids grown up…but then again I might not, because nobody knows what might happen.” 

The jury also heard that Mr Bowie, who was stationed in Walgett as ambulance officer, was a heavy drinker, violent man, and known womaniser. 

It was alleged that the two letters Mrs Bowie penned before her disappearance - one to her husband and children and another to her parents - were the result of Mr Bowie forcing her to write them before killing her. 

Mrs Bowie’s body has never been found, although Crown prosecutor Alex Morris alleged that Bowie likely disposed of her body by feeding her to pigs at a local piggery he had ties to, which leaves “don’t leave any evidence”.

One witness claimed they saw a person matching the description of Mr Bowie burying a bra and pantyhose in a gully at the Walgett golf course. Excavations of a property near the Bowie family home also found a dress ring, which prosecutors believed to be owned by Mrs Bowie. 

The Crown claimed that Mr Bowie’s motivation for murdering his wife was to pursue an unfettered relationship with another woman, who has since died. 

Witnesses within the court case reported that Mrs Bowie was a loving mother and it was near impossible that she would leave her children. 

The guilty verdict follows 40 year investigation since Mrs Bowie’s disappearance, as well as a renewed push for evidence in 2018, when the NSW Government announced a $1 million reward for information leading to the then suspected murder. 

Since the murder of Mrs Bowie, her son Warren has passed away, while daughter Brenda has continued to pursue justice for her family. 

Mr Bowie will be sentenced on December 2.