On March 30, 2002, Niamh Maye, an 18-year-old woman, disappeared in New South Wales, Australia. She was last seen near Jingellic and was planning to catch a bus from Batlow to the train station at Cootamundra, but never made the trip.
Background Originally from Armidale, Maye was on a gap year before starting university. On February 16, 2002, around 6 weeks before her disappearance, Maye and her two friends traveled to Batlow for a fruit-picking working holiday.
Disappearance On March 29, 2002, Maye went camping to Jingellic. She was accompanied by another fruit picker, Jason Nicklason, who traveled in a distinctive black hearse. They left Jingellic together on March 30. Maye was not seen again after that date, with Nicklason being the last person to see Maye alive.
Death of Jason Nicklason In September 2002, six months after the disappearance of Maye, Jason Nicklason was arrested in Brisbane for the rape of a 19-year-old woman. While in police custody outside Brisbane police headquarters, Nicklason jumped from a third storey car park and died as a result.
Search efforts On June 21, 2023, the Riverina Police District announced an AU$250,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction regarding to the disappearance of Maye.
A podcast on her disappearance was released in 2024 in the hopes of generating any new information on the case.
See also List of people who disappeared mysteriously (2000–present)
References