PUKEKAWA — 1970 · Unsolved Case
The Crewe couple case
In June 1970, Harvey and Jeanette Crewe disappeared from their farmhouse in New Zealand's Waikato region; their bodies were found in the Waikato River three months later. The strangest aspect of the case was that the couple's infant daughter was found alive in her crib five days later, having evidently been fed by someone during that time — a person who was never identified. A neighboring farmer was convicted in 1971, retried, and convicted again in 1973. After nine years in prison he was pardoned in 1979; a royal commission of inquiry established in 1980 concluded that the key evidence against him had been planted by police, and he was awarded compensation. The real perpetrator was never found.
- Date
- 1970
- Place
- Waikato, New Zealand, Pukekawa, NZ
- Category
- Unsolved Case
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- -37.3833, 174.9167 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 1970The couple disappeared; their bodies were found in the river
- 1971A neighbor was convicted
- 1979He was pardoned
- 1980A royal commission found the evidence had been planted
Sources
- Official Report
- Court Records
Source grade C: no linked source yet; details rely on the general press archive. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.