Missing Persons Squad detectives have announced a $1 million reward as they look at a new lead in the investigation into the 2009 disappearance of Krystal Fraser.
Krystal, who was heavily pregnant and only days away from giving birth at the time of her disappearance, was last seen on 20 June, 2009 in Pyramid Hill, a small country town in north central Victoria.
Missing Persons Squad Detective Acting Inspector Julian Horan said detectives received new information earlier this year which led them to refocus their investigation.
"As a result of this new information investigators have renewed a number of lines of enquiry into a person previously spoken to by police," D/Insp Horan said.
"The information is promising however sadly leads us to look at the possibility that Krystal met with foul play because of the intimate relationship she shared with a man.
"This relationship and the subsequent pregnancy may have caused a confrontation between Krystal and this man leading to her disappearance and death.
"There were a number of people spoken to by police at the time; however this new information has allowed us to narrow our focus more closely on one individual.
"It has been 10 years since Krystal's disappearance, her unborn son would have been 10-years-old, it is unimaginable to try and understand what the family must have lived through over the past decade."
Detectives have established that Krystal travelled on a V/Line train from Bendigo to Pyramid Hill on the day of her disappearance, getting off the train at Pyramid Hill Railway Station about 8.40pm.
Investigations have also revealed Krystal was last seen alive leaving an address in Albert Street, Pyramid Hill about 9.30pm after visiting an acquaintance.
"Important to the investigation is that Krystal received a 40 second phone call on her mobile phone; we know it was from a public phone booth outside the Leitchville Post Office in Findlay Avenue at 11.59pm, on 20 June, 2009," D/Insp Horan said.
"We also know Krystal's phone last showed activity on a Leitchville phone tower at 2.49am, nearly three hours after she received the call from the phone box , this indicates to us that the phone was in the Leitchville or surrounding area."
Leitchville is 27km from Pyramid Hill and about 10 minutes from Cohuna.
The proximity to Cohuna is important to detectives as what police also know, is that Krystal told several people, including hospital staff, that she intended to go to a party in Cohuna on the night she disappeared.
"We believe she discharged herself from hospital on the night of her disappearance, against medical advice, because of what she described as a 'party at Cohuna'," he said.
"What we don't know is, whether or not there was actually a party, if there was - who attended and what was the specific location?
"Calls to Krystal's mobile phone, from the Leitchville phone booth, the night prior to her disappearance and while she was at the hospital; lead us to believe they relate to the 'party' she mentioned to hospital staff.
"I believe this caller holds the answers to what happened to Krystal and may be the father of Krystal's unborn child.
"Investigators strongly believe that the caller was the last person to speak to Krystal prior to her disappearance."
Police have not been able to locate Krystal's mobile phone.
An image of the phone box and Krystal is below.
Investigators believe Krystal was murdered and despite extensive investigations, are still searching for answers.
"I hope the increase in reward to $1 million, up from $100,000 offered in June 2012, will encourage someone to come forward and help us shed light on what happened to Krystal and her unborn son," he said.
"After all this time it would be some consolation to be able to provide answers to Krystal's family let alone justice for them and Krystal in holding someone to account."
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 death of Krystal.
The Director of Public Prosecutions may also 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.
Krystal was last seen wearing an orange top, black track suit pants and a camouflaged-patterned baseball cap similar to those pictured below.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Krystal Fraser is urged to
contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
