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New South Wales detectives probing the suspected murder of an Australian teenager 30 years ago say they are "following strong lines of inquiry" after extending their investigation to New Zealand
Detectives were making inquiries in Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand, as well as in New South Wales," NSW police said today.
"As a result of these investigations detectives are following strong lines of inquiry."
The NSW Government today increased its reward offer for information on the case from A$50,000 ($65,000) to A$250,000 ($325,000) reward for information on the murder of Trudie Adams in June 1978.
Homicide squad commander, Detective Superintendent Geoff Beresford, said in a statement: "It is our belief she was kidnapped by two males and murdered."
At the time of Trudie's disappearance, a number of young women came forward to report being abducted and violently sexually assaulted.
Extensive but unsuccessful searches were conducted of the dense bushland of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Sydney.
The incidents occurred between 1971 and 1978 and involved girls aged between 14 and 20.
Strong links have been established by detectives between the sexual assaults and the disappearance of Trudie, 18, who vanished while hitchhiking home from a dance at a surf lifesaving club.
Police said there was a link between her disappearance and the violent sexual assault of other women, some of whom had their eyes taped shut.
"I think we are dealing with several people who were committing violent sexual attacks at that time and certainly their method of operation was very similar to the circumstances that we know surround the disappearance of Trudie Adams," Mr Beresford later told reporters.
"Based on that link ... makes us confident that the same offenders are responsible for those offences."
The national park remained the focus for detectives investigating the Adams case, he said.
"One thing I am encouraged about at this point is through recent information we have ... we are confident we may well discover Trudie Adams' remains," Mr Beresford said.
That "information" includes forensic investigations, but he would not give further details.
"We haven't ruled any suspects out that have been identified in the past," he said.
"I won't be canvassing any names ... for obvious reasons ... However, there were suspects identified in previous investigations and we will be pursuing that information and fresh information."
Trudie's father, Charles Adams, 79, welcomed the increased reward and renewed calls for public assistance, saying he still hoped to discover what happened to his daughter, AAP reported.
"The police might get some more leads and be able to solve the crime and the people responsible for my daughter's disappearance can be brought to justice," Mr Adams said.
- NZPA
