Cops warn those with information about missing teen Katrina Bohnenkamp to speak now
‘Don’t wait for us to knock on your door’. That was the warning from police as they ramp up the search for a missing teen. A $500k reward has also been offered for anyone who can help solve the baffling case.
Inner West
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A $500,000 reward has been issued in a bid to end one of the state’s most baffling missing person cases.
The tragic circumstances surrounding the 2012 disappearance of 15-year-old Katrina Bohnenkamp will be the subject of a Coronial Inquest beginning next week, but top cops who have been left exhuasted by the case are still pleading for leads.
Current investigations have resulted in a dead end, with the last confirmed sighting of the teenager at her father’s home in Strathfield on October 26, 2012.
Leading the calls for information was Katrina’s half sister Jaide Simpson, who described the teen as a “fun person”.
“I just want her home,” she said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“She has two nephews waiting to meet her. she was hyperactive, busy, she was kind and she just wanted to have the best life, she had goals and things she wanted to do so for her to disappear after having so many in depth conversations with her about her next steps it doesn’t fit.
“She wanted to be a vet, she loved horses.”
Detectives are ramping up the pressure on those who may know something, issuing a stern warning for anyone sitting on valuable information.
“Do not wait until we are knocking on your door,” Acting Superintendent Chris Laird said.
Batting away questions about whether they believed the teen was now dead, Auburn detectives in charge of the case say that every avenue of inquiry was still being considered despite a number of false alarms about sightings of Katrina in the aftermath of her disappearance.
Officers are now hoping that with the passage of time passed, there are now half a million reasons for anyone potentially involved to finally come forward.
“We have grave fears for her safety it’s been seven long years, Katrina’s family are quite distraught and we will do everything in our power to assist in finding those answers,” Inspector Christie Houldin said.
“We’ve been frustrated that we haven’t been able to come up with those answers.”
Media releases in relation to Katrina’s disappearance will also form part of the Coronial Inquest, Insp Houldin confirmed today, shying away from questions about why it took eight months for NSW Police to release any information to the media.
The reward, put up by the NSW Government, is on offer for any information that leads to the arrest, conviction or recovery of Katrina.
Ms Simpson said she had fears about her safety in the lead-up to her disappearance but hoped next Wednesday’s inquest would provide answers and end the family’s suffering.
“Yes I did (have concerns she was with the wrong crowd),” Ms Simpson said.
News tips? Email: anton.rose@news.com.au