Man arrested in connection to alleged Annette Steward murder
There has been a major development in one of Geelong’s biggest cold case mysteries, the alleged murder of Annette Steward in 1992.
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A Western Australian man has been arrested over the cold case alleged murder of Geelong West woman Annette Steward.
The 52-year-old Medina man was arrested in Wembley on Sunday under a joint operation by Victoria Police and Western Australia Police linked to two murder investigations.
Victoria Police homicide squad detectives interviewed the man in connection to the 1992 alleged murder of Annette Steward.
Western Australian police also interviewed the man into the into the disappearance of 59-year-old Medina woman Dianne Barrett in 2019.
He has been charged with the murder of Ms Barrett and fronted a Western Australian court today.
Detectives have not yet charged the man over the alleged murder of Ms Steward but have revealed they are looking for no other suspects in connection to her death.
Ms Steward, 29, was found strangled and bashed in her Hope St home on March 18, 1992 just 12 days before her 30th birthday.
The Point Henry worker was last seen at the Winchester Factory on March 17.
In 2015 Victoria Police said Ms Steward left work at 4.30pm before doing some shopping on her way home.
Ms Steward, who had a young daughter, was visited by four male friends and had a cup of tea with them before they left, police said.
Police said a friend dropped by the next day, on March 18, and found Ms Steward naked body in a bedroom.
A post-mortem revealed she died as a result of strangulation.
Victoria Police offered a $1million reward for any information.
Following a 2007 inquest in Ms Steward’s death sister Gillian Steward said the family was hopeful the case would one day be solved.
“We do remain hopeful, we do hope that someone will come forward with more evidence that the police can use and one day resolve the case,’’ she said at the time.
“If someone has had a falling out or someone has said something years ago that hasn’t meant anything then, (we hope) that after the case now and the coroner giving his findings, it may trigger something that they do remember and come forward and let the police know.
“It has been difficult reliving it, but there is a positive side of it. You can sort of see that that next phase is going through.”
The man suspected of Ms Steward’s murder has been remanded in custody over the murder of Ms Barrett until January 29.
Originally published as Man arrested in connection to alleged Annette Steward murder