Gordana Kotevski disappearance and suspected murder reward increased to $1 million
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Loading... - Leo Cloutier
- 25 May 2022
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Gordana Kotevski was a vivacious, enthusiastic and ambitious girl.
“She was a perfect child if there is one,” her mum Peggy said.
On the night of November 24, 1994, the 16-year-old was walking to her aunt’s place from Charlestown Square Shopping Centre in the NSW Lake Macquarie region.
The road she was walking on - Powell Street, Charlestown - connected the two locations.
But on the way, the teenager was forced into a vehicle. It was the last time she was ever seen.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t think about the ‘what ifs’ of life – Gordana was young, joyous, innocent, and then she was gone,” Gordana’s aunt Julie Talevski said.
“There’s no closure, you’re always thinking what happened ... where is she?
“Gordana was a delightful child and her disappearance has left a huge hole in our hearts.
“Ambiguous loss is difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. It is a loss that never brings closure and leaves you grieving the child that didn’t make it into adulthood.”
Peggy added: “Part of you is missing forever”.
Investigations
A 2003 coronial inquest found that Gordana was dead - most likely as a result of foul play.
Her bag and wallet had been found on the roadside where she was last seen.
In 2019, Strike Force Arapaima was established to re-examine the investigation into Gordana’s disappearance and suspected murder, along with two other missing Lake Macquarie teens - Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson.
On Wednesday, NSW Police announced the reward for information about Gordana’s disappearance would be increased to $1 million.
“Gordana was just a teenager when she disappeared almost 28 years ago – unable to live out her life as a result of what we strongly believe is foul play,” Lake Macquarie Police District Commander, Superintendent Steve Kentwell said.
“There are people out there – perhaps not just in the Lake Macquarie community, but elsewhere in the Hunter, around the state and even the country – who have vital information which could help Strike Force Arapaima detectives.
“We have a dedicated team of detectives continuing to re-examine this investigation, and we hope this reward could spark some people’s memories from 1994, anything which could assist investigators – please come forward.” Read More...
