NZ- Kirsty Bentley, 15, Abducted walking dog, Raped & murdered body in Rakaia River gorge, Dog tied to tree, 31 December 1998 " DNA*

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rbbm.

Cold case: $100,000 reward to solve 1998 Kirsty Bentley murder

The 1998 murder of the Ashburton schoolgirl remains unsolved.

www.nzherald.co.nz

July 25 2022

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

''Teenager Kirsty Bentley was likely raped and murdered by a stranger who dragged her from the street while she was out walking her dog in Ashburton on New Year’s Eve in 1998, the officer in charge of the investigation into the notorious unsolved homicide says.

Detective Inspector Greg Murton believes the 15-year-old’s killer is a lone male who either smoked or grew cannabis and was living in the mid-Canterbury town at the time.

Murton revealed his theory about the case on Monday as police offered a $100,000 reward for “material information or evidence” that leads to the identification and conviction of the person or people responsible for her murder.

It signals a change of direction for the homicide inquiry, which for many years zeroed in on Kirsty’s father, Sid, and her brother, John.''

''Kirsty left her family's home in South St, Hampstead, with her dog, Abby, about 3pm on New Year's Eve 1998.

Her family reported her missing several hours later when she failed to return home.

The next morning, Abby was found tied to a tree in scrub by the Ashburton River near a track Kirsty was known to walk regularly. Kirsty's underwear was on a bush nearby.''

''Two cannabis growers stumbled upon the teenager’s body about 50 kilometres away in a Rakaia Gorge forestry block about two weeks later. She had suffered a single blow to the back of the head.

More than 20 years after Kirsty was killed, the case remains one of the most perplexing New Zealand homicides with confoundingly little forensic evidence and numerous disputed theories.

Abby's discovery is one of the most puzzling parts of the case. Why wasn't she found the night of Kirsty's disappearance as searchers scoured that area? And why was there no evidence of a struggle in the area?

Murton has been reviewing the file and, like others before him, believes the Ashburton River scene was staged by the killer.''

''Unable to shoo Kirsty’s dog away, they had then taken it down to the river and tied it up after dark – disposing of the underwear at the same time.''

 

[dotr]

July 25 2022

2021

2020

 

[dotr]

$100,000 reward in Ashburton cold case

Police are offering a $100,000 reward for information in the Kirsty Bentley murder. The 1998 murder of the Ashburton schoolgirl remains one of New...

www.odt.co.nz

''Her father, Sid, was a suspect in his daughter's murder but denied any involvement. He died of cancer in 2015.

Today police announced a reward of $100,000 for "material information or evidence" that leads to the identity and conviction of anyone responsible for the teenager's death.

Kirsty's mother Jill Peachey today welcomed the $100,000 police move, telling the Herald it was a "great reward". She did not wish to comment further.

Detective Inspector Greg Murton said police would also consider a deal for immunity from prosecution for any accomplice who came forward and assisted with the inquiry.


"Police have gone to great lengths to explore all possible scenarios and investigative leads and, even after more than 20 years, we remain committed to holding the offender or offenders to account," Murton said.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide answers and a sense of closure for Kirsty’s family.

"That’s why today we’re offering up to $100,000 for material information or evidence leading to the identify and conviction of the person or people responsible for her death.

"Someone out there knows the truth. We urge them to do the right thing and finally come forward — if not for themselves, then for Kirsty and all those who loved her."

 

[Beekarina]

I wonder why her father was a suspect?

Also wonder why the dog was tied to the tree? Seems odd? I know all animals are different, but generally they would be protective/wary if they saw or sensed someone had harmed their person. Makes me wonder if they knew the person who tied them to the tree? i.e. could Kirsty have been the one who tied the dog to the tree initially? Not victim blaming, but teenagers smoking pot isn't an uncommon thing. She could have been meeting someone and used walking her dog as a way to get out of the family home for a bit too.

Edited: ok, so by scoured the area, had they searched that EXACT spot where Abby was later found? If so, that would likely rule out Kirsty, although not entirely if she was still alive after the spot was searched, but it still could have been someone else who knew Abby.

And if you killed Kirsty. why do you suddenly have mercy for Abby? At least in some way? I mean, that is also odd? Why tie her up vs killing her outright? Strange

 

[dotr]

Aug 2 2022

Kirsty Bentley cold case: Murdered teen's best friend haunted by final goodbye

Friend remains hopeful teen's killer will one day be caught.

www.nzherald.co.nz

''The best friend of murdered Ashburton schoolgirl Kirsty Bentley, who was with her hours before she disappeared, remains haunted by her final wave goodbye.

Lee-Anne Murray, who hung out with Bentley on New Year's Eve 1998, is hopeful that the killer will finally be brought to justice, with police last week offering a $100,000 reward to help solve the 24-year cold case mystery.''

''On December 31, 1998, Bentley caught up with her best friend Murray for some shopping in their Mid Canterbury hometown of Ashburton''.

''They lounged in the library before going to the Warehouse and some other shops around town.''

''Her mood was very Kirsty, and those that knew her know exactly what I mean. Lots of laughing, giggles and smiles."

Around early afternoon, they parted ways, thinking they would see each other the following day.

Bentley, who arrived back at the family's South St home at about 2.30pm before taking her black labrador-cross Abby for a walk, was never seen again''

''The next day, Abby was found tied to a tree near the Ashburton River, and the teen's underwear was nearby – a scene that Detective Inspector Greg Murton, who is now in charge of the cold-case file and working on a "stranger-type abduction" theory involving a loner killer who lived locally, believes was staged by the killer.''

 

[dotr]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Beekarina]

SO wait....one article says the father was the suspect, another the brother? Edited: Ok I see now, both were.

I still find it odd/suspicious that Abby was tied to a tree. Why not set loose? Or...

 

[Beekarina]

WHOA.....I find this troubling....



re:"
Sid initially said he had driven to Christchurch to drop off a water blaster and get some tools on the day Kirsty vanished, after which he spent a couple of hours in Lyttelton before driving straight home.

NZ POLICE
Abby, the Bentley’s family dog, was found tethered to a tree in the bush, near the river track.
However, he changed his story in October 2000, after apparently banging his head on a cupboard. The new version of events had him coming back from Christchurch about 2.30pm. He was within 30 seconds of his own home when he decided to drive to Wakanui Beach to get over a migraine.

Before Sid died of cancer in 2015, he told Murton he had been confused about where he was on the day Kirsty disappeared and reverted to his original story.

 

[dotr]

Aug 26 2022

'I have to be Kirsty's advocate': John Bentley on new hunt for sister's killer

There was a time when he doubted his father's innocence, the brother of slain teen says.

www.nzherald.co.nz

''The brother of murdered Ashburton teen Kirsty Bentley has spoken of his shame at doubting his father's innocence in a new appeal for information on the 23-year-old mystery.

Both the 15-year-old's brother John Bentley and father Sid Bentley were treated as suspects by police after Kirsty's body was found 18 days after she disappeared while walking the family dog on New Year's Eve 1998.

But after eight years working on the sprawling cold case file, Canterbury CIB's Detective Inspector Greg Murton said last month he didn't believe John or Sid Bentley were involved in Kirsty's death.

His "stranger-type abduction" theory instead involved a loner killer who lived locally, either smoked or grew cannabis, and knew the rugged Rakaia Gorge area where Bentley's body was eventually found.''

''He didn't like to think about the detective's new theory too much, because it had previously been thought his sister died quickly and "probably didn't know what was happening", John Bentley told Newshub Nation.

"The new conclusion opens up some scary possibilities that aren't good to think about."

"I have to be Kirsty's advocate, Mum has to be Kirsty's advocate …we need to remind people Kirsty existed."

 

[dotr]

Oct 21 2022 rbbm.

Potential new suspect emerges in Kirsty Bentley cold case

A surprise name has emerged as a potential new suspect in the Kirsty Bentley murder investigation. The tip was given to police after a $100,000...

www.odt.co.nz

''A surprise name has emerged as a potential new suspect in the Kirsty Bentley murder investigation.

The tip was given to police after a $100,000 reward was posted in a bid to solve the cold case.

Kirsty, 15, was last seen alive on the afternoon of December 31, 1998, when she left her Ashburton home to walk her labrador-cross, Abby.

Abby was found the next day tied to a tree near the Ashburton River along with a pair of Kirsty’s underwear and boxer shorts.

Her body was found 17 days later in the Rakaia Gorge by two men, who told police their reason for being at the location was that they were looking for a cannabis plot.''

'The Star can reveal the person nominated was associated with two men who were investigated for potential involvement in Kirsty’s murder but later ruled out.

The nominated person had not featured in the police investigation until the reward was posted in July.

The two men initially suspected were not Kirsty’s father Sid or brother John, who police focused on for a number of years.'

 

[Markybug]

Bumping

 

[dotr]

11 Oct 2024

Bikie cash ‘nice gesture’

A bikie gang member gave Kirsty Bentley’s best friend an envelope of cash for the grieving family, but it’s not seen as a case breakthrough. Lee-Anne Murray (nee Jellyman) now lives in Rangiora and was with Kirsty hours before the teenager disappeared in Ashburton on New Year’s

www.guardianonline.co.nz

'A bikie gang member gave Kirsty Bentley’s best friend an envelope of cash for the grieving family, but it’s not seen as a case breakthrough.'