Aged nine years, Simpson was abducted, raped, and murdered by asphyxiation when Andrew Peter Garforth (born 5 August 1963) drowned her.

Over a hundred people began searching the area for Ebony, including police, firemen, State Emergency Service members, and volunteers.

[3] With her house in sight, Garforth had grabbed Simpson, thrown her in the boot of his car and driven off to a remote dam.

[5] Justice Peter Newman refused to fix a non-parole period and ordered that Garforth's papers be marked "never to be released".

"[8][9][10][11][12] In 1995, Garforth lodged several claims for victims' compensation via his lawyers, relating to alleged assaults which occurred in prison.

[13] Following the 1988 state election, the NSW Government introduced legislation in 1989 and 1990 broadly aimed at truth in sentencing.