Everything is thrown into uncertainty over the June long weekend in 2024, when Elaine Johnson’s younger sister, Helen, receives a stream of unexpected text messages.

An informant — someone we’re calling Roger — has come forward with information he says is so sensitive it could affect an active investigation.

Roger tells Helen he reached out because a friend of his knew Elaine and Kerry.

That friend can no longer speak for himself; he died many years ago.

But before he passed, Roger says, the man told him the girls had been taken to a property in the NSW Southern Tablelands, where something happened to them.

Roger says it was his friend’s dying wish that this information be passed on to Helen.

Searching for Elaine is a series from Out From The Cold, part of Happy Tuesday Productions.

If you have information about Elaine Johnson or Kerri Ann Joel, you can get in touch at Help Find Elaine Johnson or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Searching for Elaine was produced by Kate Kachor and Sally Spicer, editing by Dan McHugh and Matt Haywood, artwork by Nic Watts.

'Wildflowers' by Jess Ribeiro.