Answers about what happened to a teenager who mysteriously vanished on her way to play basketball with her friends four decades ago could be found in a small Australian town.   

Lisa Mott, 12, was on her way to the the local sports  courts on Throssel Street in Collie, in WA’s south-west, around 6.45pm October 30, 1980. 

Around two hours later, Lisa visited a pizza shop before she began to walk home around 9pm and was last seen crossing a railway line to Forrest Street. She never returned home. 

WA Police Cold Case Investigation Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Dowding described the incident as ‘every parents worst nightmare’. 

Sgnt Dowding said police are appealing for further information from the community in a bid to find out what happened.  

‘We want to find that explanation and we believe that’s possible with the help of the community,’ he said. 

‘Any small piece of information may be all we need to progress this investigation and find the answers for Lisa’s family.’ 

Lisa Mott (pictured) 12, was last seen crossing the railway line to Forrest Street, in Collie, in WA’s south-west, around 6.45pm October 30, 1980

Detectives from the Cold Case Investigation Squad have been tasked with solving the mystery. 

The officers have been stationed at a mobile police facility at the PCYC centre, at 105 Forrest Street, in Collie since Wednesday. 

They believe someone in the town knows something that could lead to answers for Lisa’s family. 

Lisa was last seen wearing a light blue T-shirt and dark blue towelling shorts with a white trim around the legs. 

She was also wearing a pair of brown and fawn striped sneakers with white socks.

NSW police have also releasing a new episode of their Cold Case podcast about Lisa’s disappearance. 

Anyone with information about Lisa’s disappearance has been urged to visit the PCYC centre or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Detectives from the Cold Case Investigation Squad have been tasked with solving the mystery and officers have been stationed at a mobile police facility (pictured) since Wednesday