New lead in Terry Floyd cold case murder investigation points to Raymond Jones

COLD CASE FILES: A NEW witness has come forward to further implicate paedophile Raymond Jones in the abduction and murder of Terry Floyd.

A NEW witness has implicated paedophile Raymond Jones in the abduction and murder of schoolboy Terry Floyd.

He did so through Terry's brother, Daryl.

Terry, 12, disappeared while hitchhiking from Avoca to Maryborough in 1975.

Daryl Floyd is paying for the excavation of an old gold mine near Avoca in the belief his brother's body may have been dumped there.

Mr Floyd has spent more than $80,000 of his own money on the dig since September 2010.

He has received donations from individuals and businesses, including $50,000 from Victoria Police and $25,000 from the State Government, but needs about another $250,000.

Victoria Police doesn't consider Mr Floyd's information is sufficiently strong for it to organise and fully pay for the excavation.

Raymond Kenneth Jones is a prime suspect in the disappearance of Terry Floyd.

But Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana recently wrote to Mr Floyd to tell him the force would consider reimbursing reasonable costs of the excavation if Terry's body were found at the mine site.

"I also wish to confirm that Terry's case is subject to periodic re-evaluation and investigation as part of our cold case review process," he said.

Mr Floyd yesterday welcomed the offer, saying it would hopefully make it easier for him to get further donations.

He also praised the force for its commitment to continue investigating Terry's disappearance, including examining new leads he had provided.

One of those leads further suggests Jones was involved.

In 2010, the Herald Sun revealed that Victoria Police considered convicted paedophile Jones, 61, the prime suspect for abducting and murdering Terry.

He was on bail when Terry disappeared on June 28, 1975, and was later convicted of indecently assaulting a boy in a Ballarat toilet and jailed for two years.

Jones has told the Herald Sun he was not involved and had nothing to fear from the search for Terry's body and renewed police interest.

Victoria Police offered a $100,000 reward in 2010 in the hope of catching Terry's killer. It is still available.

Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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