Australia Australia - Jessica Small, 15, Bathurst, NSW, 26 Oct 1997

[FigTree]

"After the bungle comes the delay"



"THE countless delays associated with the 1997 disappearance of Jessica Small show no sign of ending just yet"

"Almost two months on from Ms Freund’s recommendation, Ms Small is still waiting to hear news about the reward and, understandably, now fears that any momentum established during the inquest may have been lost.

What cannot be ignored, though, is that someone must know what happened to Jessica.

Even if her abductor acted alone on that night, it’s hard to believe they have managed to keep their secret to themselves for almost 17 years.

They must have tripped up at some point in that time, must have been loose with their words and may even have admitted their guilt to another person.

And maybe it will take the lure of a truly life-changing reward to finally bring someone forward with that sort of information "

Read more http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2450479/after-the-bungle-comes-the-delay/?cs=117

Thanks for the link Tootsie :seeya:

I really feel sorry for Jessica's mother and her family.

I'm glad though for the Western Advocate keeping up with whats happening.
It will be interesting to see now, how long it takes to get the Reward out there.

Hopefully there is someone ready to give over some information.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Unless I'm blind I didn't see this here
http://www.coroners.lawlink.nsw.gov...01601l771003/jessica small findings final.pdf

Thank you for that oddsocks. This horrible man took a chance and he won, abducting poor Jessica and she's never seen again, her friend Vanessa was so lucky to escape.
The police didn't take it seriously? So, so sad.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Reduced reward for information on Jessica Small disappoints Ricki Small

"JUST $100,000 will be offered as a reward for information about Jessica Small’s abduction and murder – despite the state’s deputy coroner recommending at least five times that amount be made available.

The State Government is expected to announce the $100,000 reward next week in a last-ditch attempt to solve a 17-year mystery and tragedy for Jessica’s mother Ricki Small"

"But the size of the reward has shocked Mrs Small, who was expecting a much bigger sum to be offered"


http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2724727/what-price-jessicas-life/?cs=115

 

[FigTree]

Reduced reward for information on Jessica Small disappoints Ricki Small

"JUST $100,000 will be offered as a reward for information about Jessica Small’s abduction and murder – despite the state’s deputy coroner recommending at least five times that amount be made available.

The State Government is expected to announce the $100,000 reward next week in a last-ditch attempt to solve a 17-year mystery and tragedy for Jessica’s mother Ricki Small"

"But the size of the reward has shocked Mrs Small, who was expecting a much bigger sum to be offered"


http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2724727/what-price-jessicas-life/?cs=115

Quote: http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2724727/what-price-jessicas-life/?cs=115
State deputy coroner Sharon Freund supported that request when she handed down her findings on June 6 this year, recommending to the Police Minister Stuart Ayres and Attorney General Brad Hazzard that consideration be given to offering a monetary reward, which she said “should not, in my view, be less than $500,000”, for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for Jessica’s murder.
-----


All I can about this is 'Jessica, you deserve so much more than this'

What a slap in the face for Jessica's family. :sigh:

What concerns me is that; if there was someone willing to come to the forefront with information about Jessica's disappearence due to the size of the reward suggested, and were waiting for the reward to be announced - they may have second thoughts now. I really hope not - but I think it could be a perceived factor to consider.

 

[drsleuth]

I've started a thread for Janine who also went missing from Bathurst 13 yrs ago today :-(

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...-Janine-Vaughan-31yrs-Bathurst-NSW-Dec-7-2001

 

[FigTree]

I've started a thread for Janine who also went missing from Bathurst 13 yrs ago today :-(

www.websleuths.com/forums/showthrea...urst-NSW-26-Oct-1997&highlight=janine+vaughan

Not sure why, but the link keeps bringing me back to Jessicas case - Im just posting Janines link again - maybe its just my computer being tempramental tonight :dunno:

Thanks drsleuth for posting Janine's thread! Cheers!
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...hurst-NSW-Dec-7-2001&highlight=Janine+Vaughan

 

[TootsieFootsie]

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2805535/police-to-reveal-jessica-small-reward/?cs=119

"NSW Police will today announce a reward for information leading to a conviction in the case of missing Bathurst teenager Jessica Small – more than 17 years after she was abducted in Hereford Street"

 

[TootsieFootsie]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-09/jessica-reward/6008454

"A $100,000 reward has been offered for anyone with new information about the disappearance of Bathurst teenager Jessica Small."

 

[TootsieFootsie]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...-on-missing-teen/story-fni0cx4q-1227179478633

"Teenager Jessica Small disappeared almost 20 years ago without a trace.

The 15-year-old was last seen in Bathurst in the early hours of October 26, 1997 when her and friend Vanessa Conlan were hitchhiking to a mate’s house after visiting an amusement arcade"

Who snatched Jessica Small?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rs-ago-quiet-bush-road-night-best-friend.html

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Mixed feelings for family after Jessica Small reward announced
"THE confirmation from police that a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Bathurst teenager Jessica Small’s killer was a double-edged sword for her family yesterday.

Jessica’s mother, Ricki Small, said while she was pleased that a reward had finally been announced more than 17 years after her daughter went missing, the amount of $100,000 was disappointing"
http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/s...d-feelings-about-jessica-small-reward/?cs=119

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Police say someone has answers in Jessica Small case

"NSW Police Minister Stuart Ayres said Jessica’s family had gone almost two decades without knowing what had happened to her.

“We hope that someone out there has the answers that Jessica’s family so desperately want and need,” Mr Ayres said"

"Detectives are also keen to hear from anyone who has knowledge of the vehicle used in the incident.

The white VK Holden Commodore sedan had an orange blanket covering the back shelf above the rear seat, as well as a number of holes in the front passenger foot-well"


http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2807401/jessica-small-case-police-say-someone-has-answers/

 

[TootsieFootsie]

The girl who vanished: police offer $100k reward to help solve mystery of teen abducted in Bathurst
Read more at:

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/01/09/11/55/cops-put-up-100-000-in-nsw-abduction-case

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Is $100,000 enough to catch a killer?

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2807361/is-100000-enough-to-catch-a-killer/?cs=117

"For the sake of Mrs Small, the people of Bathurst can only hope the reward does shed new light on a case that continues to cast a shadow over this community.

The people of Bathurst have not forgotten Jessica Small. And the police have not forgotten Jessica Small.

We can only hope the $100,000 reward jogs someone else’s memory"

 

[FigTree]

Is $100,000 enough to catch a killer?

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/2807361/is-100000-enough-to-catch-a-killer/?cs=117

"For the sake of Mrs Small, the people of Bathurst can only hope the reward does shed new light on a case that continues to cast a shadow over this community.

The people of Bathurst have not forgotten Jessica Small. And the police have not forgotten Jessica Small.

We can only hope the $100,000 reward jogs someone else’s memory"

I wonder if there is a possibility that this reward might rise in increments over time.
I truly hope so -

It just seems that offering an amount which is one fifth of the recommendation is, well, wrong - there's no other word for it.

 

[Murkywaters]

[video=youtube;-7tv0F5x5a0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7tv0F5x5a0[/video]

Jessica Small's piece on 60 Minutes.

 

[FigTree]

[video=youtube;-7tv0F5x5a0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7tv0F5x5a0[/video]

Jessica Small's piece on 60 Minutes.

Watching the video again - leads me to ask a couple of questions...
Regarding the POI - McBride...
at 25:00 on the video - reporter asked Vanessa -
Did you recognize him?
Vanessa said that after all this time she could not 100% say it was him.
I wondered if there were any photos of McBride around the time of Jessica's and Vanessa's abduction that would help.

The blanket that was found in the forest with the blood on it (with the bleach bottle and the underwear) - at 16:14+ on the video...
I went looking for that design on the blanket - it is a quilted cover - it looks to me like a cot cover blanket or similar - could even be a throw rug type of thing.
It has Smurfs on it. One of the Smurfs is holding a scroll with a musical note on it - there are other Smurfs on the print, but I am having trouble identifying them - one looks to be in a car, or holding a drum.
I am looking for an item with that exact design so that the quilt/article is clearer. There are many Smurf designs, and this design would have to be 1997 or earlier.
It those items were associated with Jessica's disappearance - I wondered about that blanket. It was either associated with the clean-up, or it could have been present in the car at the time of Jessica's disappearance. If it was in the car - maybe that is something that is as recognizable as the Orange blanket that Police said was on the back parcel shelf of the VK Commodore they were searching for.

Just some thoughts...
Jessica is not forgotten.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

No Websleuths link for Andrew Russell so am posting this here.

Tony Simmons found not guilty of Andrew Russell murder

BRUCE Herbert and Suzanne Wallace’s six-year search for answers is no closer to an end today after the man accused of killing their son, Andrew Russell, was yesterday found not guilty of the murder.

Tony Simmons, 28, appeared in the Supreme Court in Sydney yesterday where Justice Peter Hamill handed down his verdict.

"Simmons was separately charged with assaulting Mr Russell, occasioning actual bodily harm. He was found guilty of that charge and will be sentenced on that matter today"

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/3092517/still-no-answers/?cs=119


Andrew Russell is still missing

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Follow your instincts is the message of this year's National Missing Person's Week


JESSICA Small, abducted in 1997, and Janine Vaughan, who went missing from Bathurst in 2001, are among the hundreds of long-term missing persons cases which police are promoting as part of National Missing Person’s Week


As police promote these and other long-term missing person cases, they reminded people to follow their instincts when it comes to reporting people missing.

“Follow your instincts” is the theme of this year’s campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the issues and impacts surrounding missing persons.

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/3251490/follow-your-instincts-and-report/?cs=119

 

[FigTree]

Bookmarking - I stupidly erased all my subscribed threads :facepalm:

 

[TootsieFootsie]

In local paper today

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/4029387/500000-reasons-to-think-they-just-dont-care

"GRIEVING Bathurst mother Ricki Small is right when she says it’s time the State Government considered increasing the reward on offer for information relating to her daughter’s abduction and presumed murder in 1997.

In fact, it should have happened long ago"