Victoria Police is today announcing six $1 million rewards for information regarding ‘Operation Lyndhurst’, an investigation into the deaths of six people whose bodies were found in the Tynong North and Frankston area from 1980, commonly referred to as the ‘Tynong North murders’., Victoria Police say
This is the largest amount ever offered in a single reward announcement in Victoria.
On 30 May, 1980 59-year-old Allison Rooke was last seen leaving her home in Hannah Street, Frankston North about 11am, intending to catch a bus from the Hannah Street and Frankston-Dandenong Road bus stop to the Frankston shops.
Her body was discovered in Frankston by a man walking his dogs in scrubland near McClelland Drive on 5 July, 1980.
On 10 August, 1980 73-year-old Bertha Miller was last seen leaving her home in Kardinia Road, Glen Iris about 10am, intending to catch a tram from Malvern Road and High Street to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Prahran.
On 28 August, 1980 14-year-old Berwick girl Catherine Headland was last seen leaving her boyfriend’s address in High Street, Berwick about 11am, intending to catch a bus from Manuka Road and High Street, Berwick to the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre Narre Warren.
On 6 October, 1980 18-year-old Ann-Marie Sargent was last seen leaving her mother’s address in Cranbourne Drive, Cranbourne about 9.30am intending to catch a bus to the CES employment office in Dandenong, and from there intended to travel to the Clyde Post Office.
About 2pm on 6 December, 1980 a group of men were dumping animal remains in scrub near a quarry off Brew Road, Tynong North when he came across human remains and reported the matter to police.
The bodies of Bertha, Catherine, and Ann-Marie were subsequently located and identified.
On 29 November, 1980 34-year-old Narumol Stephenson was last seen outside a friend’s home in Park Street, Brunswick in the early hours of the morning.
On 3 February, 1983 a car pulled over on the Princes Freeway in Tynong North after getting a flat tyre.
While it was being changed, a man from that car noticed a bone sticking out of the bush and took it to Warrigal Police Station.
The bone was confirmed as human and shortly after, the remains of Narumol were located.
On 9 October, 1981 55-year-old Joy Carmel Summers was last seen at a bus stop at Chile Street and Frankston-Dandenong Road, Frankston about 1pm, intending to catch a bus to the Frankston shops
Joy’s body was subsequently found in scrubland near Skye Road, Frankston North on 22 November 1981.
At the time of disappearance, each victim was on foot and did not have access to a motor vehicle, with the majority intending to travel on public transport.
The bodies of all victims had been left in scrubland, and efforts were made by the offender to conceal their location and their identity.
Personal belongings had also been removed from each victim.
Over the years, investigators have spoken to over 2000 people in relation to the murders and a number of persons of interest were identified.
A new taskforce was established to review the cases in 1998 however no one has ever been charged in relation to the deaths.
A reward of up to $1 million will be paid at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner of Police for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for the abduction and murder of each victim.
In appropriate cases, the DPP may consider, according to established guidelines, the granting of indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders in this matter.
Any payment of a reward will be subject to the applicant signing a deed of confidentiality prior to payment.
Investigators are seeking public assistance to help solve these six murders, and are appealing directly to any persons with knowledge of these crimes and of those responsible to come forward and contact police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
