February 2, 1986
- Anita finishes work as a nurse at Sydney Hospital at 3pm and meets friends for dinner in Redfern.
- About 10pm she gets off train at Blacktown Station and begins walk home.
- Five men grab her off street and pull her into stolen car. Young brother and sister witness the abduction. Anita's driven to secluded paddock where she's raped and murdered.
- Her parents worry when she doesn't return home, police begin searching.
February 4
- Farmer notices his cows making unusual noises, huddling around something. He investigates and discovers Anita's body.
- Garry Lynch has the horrifying task of identifying his daughter's body.
Ms Cobby's father, Garry Lynch (pictured at right), died aged 90 in a western Sydney nursing home. Source: AAP
- The NSW state government posts a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Anita's killers.
February 9
- Constable Debbie Wallace re-enacts Anita's movements on the night of her murder.
- Following a tip-off from the public police begin searching for John Travers, Michael Murdoch - and brothers Les, Michael and Gary Murphy.
February 21
- Murdoch and Leslie Murphy are arrested and charged with stolen vehicle offences and bailed. Travers makes conflicting statements about the murder and is held in custody.
February 21-24
- A friend of Travers, known as Mrs X, agrees to help the police and obtains a recorded confession from him.
- Travers, Murdoch and the three Murphy brothers taken into custody.
1987, March 16
- Trial begins, Travers changes plea to guilty before proceedings begin.
June 10
- All five found guilty of murder
June 16
- All get sentenced to life imprisonment plus additional time, with files marked "never to be released".
