Police offer $500,000 reward for Newcastle woman’s death

Cecilia Devine, also known as Kristen Pearson, was last seen shopping at Coles and withdrawing money from an ATM in Katoomba on September 6, 2018.

The day before, she had disappeared from her hometown of Newcastle after family and friends became concerned when they were unable to contact her.

Police launched a search effort to find her, but it wasn’t until six months later that staff at a Katoomba water treatment plant found her naked body in the remote Upper Cascade Creek dam on March 18, 2019.

The following month, the remains were formally identified as hers and the State Homicide Squad opened a murder investigation alongside local police.

The $500,000 reward was announced today by the NSW Government and NSW Police.

Devine lived in Newcastle but traveled 230 kilometers to Katoomba before her disappearance.

Her mother, Kathy Pearson, welcomed the announcement of the reward to find out what happened to “a much-loved daughter, sister and friend who was taken from us too soon in terrible circumstances.”

“She was a talented singer and songwriter with a bright smile, an infectious laugh and a big heart.”

Blue Mountains PAC Commander Superintendent John Nelson said he hoped the half-million dollar reward would encourage anyone who may have seen it to come forward
Divine.

“Before her disappearance, Cecilia traveled from Newcastle to Katoomba, but we still have no concrete evidence of how she got here, why she made the journey or how she died,” Nelson said.

“We would ask anyone who saw Cecilia at the time she was reported missing, or who has any information about her whereabouts at the time, to contact the police.

“This information may very well be the missing piece of the puzzle in this investigation.”