‘Ongoing pain': SA Police issue fresh appeal to crack cold case disappearance, murder of mum and daughter

News.com.au

3 days ago

Police have made a fresh plea for information in a 25-year-old cold case involving the disappearance of a teenager and the unsolved murder of her mother, with a $1m reward now being offered to help crack the case.
Rosemary Brown, 33 and her daughter Melissa, 15, were last seen leaving their Blair Athol home, near Adelaide, about 2.30am on May 13, 2000.
The pair were reported missing by Ms Brown's friends the following day and a major crime was declared about a week later.
On July 2 that same year, Ms Brown's body was found in mangroves at Garden Island.
Melissa's remains have never been found.
In a renewed appeal for help to solve the case, Major Crime Investigation Branch Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke urged anyone with information to come forward, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
'This is a particularly disturbing case. A mother was murdered and her body disposed of, (and) we believe Melissa was also murdered,' he said.
'It's tragic for the family of Rosemary and Melissa to experience this long passage of time with no answers about what happened to their loved ones.
'I have no doubt that numerous people either know what happened to Rosemary and Melissa or have information that will assist the investigation into their suspected murder.
'We appeal to them to contact police and provide that information.'
No-one has ever been charged with any offences in relation to the disappearance of Ms Brown or Melissa.
'As you can imagine, that's 25 years of ongoing pain and suffering for the family, not knowing what has happened to Rosemary or Melissa, and also not allowing the family the ability to lay Melissa to rest,' he said.
'I have no doubt at all that there are people out there that know what happened to Melissa and Rosemary and have information that may assist the investigation into their disappearance and murder.'
Sergeant Fielke said they identified persons of interest over the years and investigations were conducted on those people, but they never had enough evidence or information to lay charges.
He said they had reviewed evidence and conducted DNA testing on items that had been seized in relation to the suspected double homicide.
'A handbag was found in the days after they were reported missing (which) will be resubjected to forensic testing,' he said.
'We're following some positive lines of inquiry, but we can always have more information, and sometimes it's those little pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that we're looking for to put it all together.
'We never give up on these things, and we'll always look for persons of interest or suspects in this case.'
Sergeant Fielke said after two decades friendships and allegiances may have faltered or splintered and there could be people who wanted to get something off their chest.
'We think there are people that will know information, and the passage of time actually might help that, because they're not so tied to who they were 25 years ago,' he said.
The South Australian government is offering a $1m reward for information and assistance leading to a conviction of the person, or persons, responsible for Melissa's suspected murder.
A $200,000 reward is also being offered for information relating to Rosemary's murder.
Melissa's father Barry and half-sister Kayla recently visited the last believed location of Melissa and her mother on Stirling St in Northfield remember her.
Kalya said Melissa was her best friend and hoped to give her the farewell she deserved.
'We need to know where she is and what happened to her,' Kayla pleaded.
'We want to see the person or people who have caused our pain brought to justice.'
Melissa's father Barry said he believed more than one person was involved in his daughter's disappearance.
'My message to the people responsible, because I don't believe it to be just one person: it's better to come forward now with information,' he said.
'A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time (Melissa's disappearance) has messed me up.