The ACT Government will offer rewards of up to half a million dollars for information that leads to the successful prosecutions of persons responsible for five unsolved homicide or missing persons cases.
The matters now eligible for a $500,000 reward are:
Keren Rowland, who was 20 years old when she went missing on 26 February 1971, the night of the Royal Canberra Show. Her remains were discovered at the Air Disaster Memorial nearly three months later on 13 May 1971.
Elizabeth Herfort, who was last seen on 13 June 1980 at the Australian National University Bar, Acton, ACT. Elizabeth failed to return home that night and has not been heard from or seen since.
Megan Louise Mulquiney, who started work at 8.30am on 28 July 1984 at Big W, Woden Shopping Centre in Canberra. The 17-year-old was last seen standing outside the western entrance of Woden Plaza adjacent to Big W and the western car park about noon that day. She was due to catch a bus home from the Plaza, however never arrived home.
Troy Hugh Forsyth, who was 17 years old when he was fatally struck by a panel van while walking home with friends along Kent Street in Deakin in the early hours of Sunday 1 March 1987. Police never found the panel van or its driver, despite an exhaustive investigation.
David Abuoi, also known as Gabrielle Malak Arok, who was last seen on the morning of 10 July 2012 in the Canberra City area. He was aged 35 at the time of his disappearance. Police suspect David has been murdered.
While three of these matters are long-term missing persons, it is hoped that offering the rewards will encourage a witness or someone else with information about their disappearances to come forward. If the disappearance was the result of criminal action, then any witness or person with relevant information may be eligible for a reward.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister, Dr Marisa Paterson said that half a million dollars is a significant incentive for anyone with information to come forward.
"The ACT Government is pleased to be able to offer these rewards for information that leads to a resolution for these families," Dr Paterson said
"The families of these five people have never given up hope of getting answers regarding what happened to their loved ones. Half a million dollars is a strong incentive for someone to tell police what they know.
"If you know anything about Keren, Troy, David, Elizabeth or Megan's matters, we are urging you to come forward."
ACT Chief Police Officer, Scott Lee thanked the government for approving these new rewards.
"Our Unsolved Homicide and Long-Term Missing Persons Team identified these five matters as the ones most likely to have witnesses or information that can assist police," Chief Police Officer Lee said.
"Hopefully this reward, funded by the ACT Government, encourages those with information to help us resolve these cases and provide their families with answers.
we continue to review, reconsider and re-examine each of these matters, we acknowledge that significant time has passed for some of these investigations. But that doesn't mean there isn't someone out there that knows what happened.
"One small piece of information may be all that's required to lead us to the answers we seek."
These five new matters are in addition to three existing unsolved homicides that had rewards announced in 2012 – the murders of Kathryn Grosvenor in 2002, Susan Winburn in 2004 and Frank Campbell in 2005.
Anyone with any information about any of these eight matters is urged to provide their details to Crime Stoppers at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
While information can be provided anonymously, to be eligible for any reward requires. the person providing the information to supply their details and speak with police. An appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be considered for any accomplice to a homicide who first gives information.
