Issued at 12pm, Thursday 2 May 2024
PLEASE NOTE: Images of Toni Tiki are available via Hightail – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/d3ruPGDrTc
The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police Force, have announced a $1 million reward for information into the murder of Toni Tiki nearly 30 years ago.
Toni Tiki – then aged 26 – was last seen leaving a New Year's Eve party at the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving club about 1.30am on Monday 1 January 1996.
Toni had left the party with a male friend who had agreed to walk her home, before he decided he wanted to remain at the party, and they parted ways.
When Toni could not be contacted or located, she was reported missing to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command by a friend on Tuesday 2 January 1996.
Local police commenced inquiries to locate Toni before her body was discovered in scrubland near the surf club on Friday 5 January 1996.
A postmortem indicated Toni died as a result of severe injuries.
Detectives attached to State Crime Command's Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation; however, the case remains unsolved.
As inquiries under Strike Force Ionian 2 continue, a $1 million reward has been announced for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Toni's murder.
Minister for Police & Counter Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, said the announcement of a $1 million reward was significant, and would hopefully lead to some answers for Toni's family.
"This announcement reinforces that even after nearly 30 years, NSW Police Force investigators remain committed to finding justice for Toni," Minister Catley said.
"The message is: if you have any information, regardless of how small or insignificant you might think it is – please come forward."
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said someone out there must know more about what happened to Toni.
"We're hoping today's $1 million reward will encourage anyone who may be still sitting on information about Toni's death to come forward and talk to police," Det Supt Doherty said.
"Toni was a mother and a loved member of her family who didn't deserve what happened to her, but her family does deserve answers."
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
