Murder of Michelle Bright

Michelle Bright was a 17-year-old girl who was found raped and murdered in New South Wales, Australia.

Last known sighting

Michelle Bright was last seen at 12:45 am on 2 February 1999 by a friend who dropped her off in Mayne Street, Gulgong following a friend's 15th birthday party that day. The Minister for Police, Michael Daley, announced that the NSW Government was offerering a reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Bright, which at the time was the highest reward offered in NSW. The police regarded Bright's death as a horrific crime.

Arrest of suspect

On 10 August 2020, the reward was raised to $1,000,000. The following day, 53-year-old Craig Henry Rumsby, a former neighbour of Bright's, was arrested for her murder, as well as an additional charge of assault with intent to rape; committed in 1998 against an 18-year old.

Trial by jury

On 30 June 2023, Rumsby was found guilty of Bright's murder and the assault on the 18-year-old.
On 7 August 2023, Justice Robert Allan Hulme sentenced Rumsby to 32 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 24 years: Rumsby will be eligible for parole in 2044, at the age of 77.