New leads in disappearance of Burnie mother Helen Munnings as Tasmania police boost reward
UPDATED: The mum of a young Burnie woman believed murdered 11 years ago hopes a record boost in the money offered will motivate those who know what happened to finally come forward.
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UPDATED: The mother of a young Burnie woman believed murdered 11 years ago hopes a significant boost in the money offered will motivate those who know what happened to finally come forward.
Helen Munnings, 20, disappeared in Burnie on July 23, 2008.
Her mum Karel Munnings said she had been asking Tasmania Police to increase the reward for a long time.
“This is what we have been asking for,” she said.
DISAPPEARANCE OF YOUNG MUM BECOMES MURDER INVESTIGATION
“Let’s hope it flushes out the extra information needed to put this to bed after what has been a long 10 year ordeal.
“It seems the investigation is moving forward at last but the police won’t tell us what extra information they have.”
Police said fresh leads in the decade-old mystery would see new sites searched in the hope of finding the remains of the 20-year-old mother.
Police have announced the reward for information which leads to a conviction in the murder case had increased from $50,000 to $250,000 — a record matched only by that offered in the cold case murder investigation of Shane Barker in Campbell Town in 2009.
That case remains unsolved.
Due to the new leads, the investigative team has increased from one detective to four.
“The case is eminently solvable,” Detective Inspector Rob Gunton said.
“We have additional search areas and some leads to examine in more detail.
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“We have always held the view that there are people out there with information. An increase in the reward money could be the driving factor that brings them forward.”
Ms Munnings, the 20-year-old mother of a toddler son was last seen on July 23, 2008.
Insp Gunton said thousands of police investigative hours had gone into solving the crime and at one stage all of Burnie’s detectives were on the case.
Western District Commander Debbie Williams said the extra reward money and the amount of time since Ms Munnings went missing could motivate people unable, or unwilling, to talk to police in the past to do so.
“In the passage of time someone’s circumstances and allegiances may have changed and the
offer of a life-changing amount of money may be the motivation they need to come forward,” she said.
“That kind of money allows a fresh start.”
Ms Munnings was pregnant when she went missing.
On the day she was last seen she told her family she had a doctor’s appointment and was walking into town.
Instead she met Adam Taylor, the father of her two-year-old son. He told the 2012 inquest into Ms Munnings disappearance the pair drove around Burnie talking before he dropped her off outside the former pulp mill about 6pm.
Mr Taylor said he then drove back to the Heybridge house he shared with his partner.
Coroner Robert Pearce determined that Ms Munnings died in Burnie on the date she was last seen. He identified Mr Taylor was a person of interest.
Police said he remained so.
Anyone with information that could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EARLIER: Police are investigating new leads into the disappearance of young mother Helen Munnings as they announce a record reward for information to solve the case.
Western District Commander Debbie Williams announced the reward for information had increased from $50,000 to $250,000 to found what happened to the Burnie mum.
On July 23, 2008 the 20-year-old Ms Munnings disappeared in the seaside city of Burnie.
She told her family she was making the short walk from their home to the doctor.
In fact, she had arranged to meet Adam Taylor, the father of her two-year-old son.
In 2012 the Coroner determined that Ms Munnings died in Burnie on or about 23 July.
“We know that there are people who have information that could lead to a conviction in this
case,” Commander Williams said.
“We have also identified some additional areas to search and will be conducting those searches in the near future.”
MOTHER HAUNTED BY DAUGHTER’S DISAPPEARANCE
Helen’s mother Karel Black said she had been asking Tasmania Police to increase the reward for a long time and she hoped it flushed out the extra information need to solve her daughter’s case after what has been a “long 10 years.”
”It seems the investigation is moving forward at last but they won’t tell us what extra information they have,” she said.
The reward equals that offered in the case of Shane Geoffrey Barker, who was murdered in
Campbell Town on August 2, 2009. That case remains unsolved.
Police said the investigation into Ms Munnings’ disappearance had remained active and the decision to increase the reward had come as investigators look into fresh leads.
“Investigators have long held the view that there are people in the community who have
knowledge of Helen’s disappearance who, for whatever reason, have not either been able to
come forward or have been unwilling,” Commander Williams said.
“This reward may well serve as the driving factor to motivate them to speak with police.
“In the passage of time someone’s circumstances and allegiances may have changed and the
offer of a life-changing amount of money may be the motivation they need to come forward.
That kind of money allows a fresh start.”
The reward equals that offered in the case of Shane Geoffrey Barker, who was murdered in
Campbell Town on August 2, 2009. That case remains unsolved.
Anyone with information that could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
helen.kempton@news.com.au
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