Fresh hope for Tracey's family
12 Aug, 2002 10:15 PM
THE FAMILY of murdered Ballarat woman Tracey Howard has been given fresh hope that new information on the case will emerge with the release of a photograph of the last time Ms Howard was seen alive.
Published in The Courier on Saturday, the photograph was taken from security video footage from Cheers nightclub in Lydiard St Sth on the night Ms Howard disappeared in November 1998.
Ms Howard's older sister Janiece Vanrooy spoke to The Courier yesterday from Brisbane, and said she hoped the photograph and the story would jog someone's memory of November 22 and provide some of the vital missing pieces in the four-year-old case.
It is the first time Ms Vanrooy has spoken to the media about her sister's death.
"We hope every day something jogs someone's memory. Someone can't do this and get away with it," she said.
"It's not hard to stay hopeful. There have to be details out there that someone must know."
Ms Vanrooy said it was good to see that her sister's case had not been forgotten.
She praised Victoria Police for offering the $100,000 reward for information on Ms Howard's murder.
Police said while there had not yet been a response to the photograph, it often took days for people to come forward to Crimestoppers.
"I think it's good people still think about it; the pressure has to be put on," Ms Vanrooy said.
"Someone has to come forward. Maybe this article and the reward will help someone to step forward, even if they are scared, or it will get the person who is living with doing this to crack."
Ms Vanrooy spoke frankly about the effect losing Ms Howard had on her family.
She said the family had no choice but to wait and hope someone with information came forward and helped to solve the case and give them closure.
"It's affected our lives totally. It's still as fresh for us as the day it happened," she said.
"You learn to deal with the grief, but even four years later it's like yesterday and I don't know if that will ever change."
Anyone with information on the case should call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Published in The Courier on Saturday, the photograph was taken from security video footage from Cheers nightclub in Lydiard St Sth on the night Ms Howard disappeared in November 1998.
Ms Howard's older sister Janiece Vanrooy spoke to The Courier yesterday from Brisbane, and said she hoped the photograph and the story would jog someone's memory of November 22 and provide some of the vital missing pieces in the four-year-old case.
It is the first time Ms Vanrooy has spoken to the media about her sister's death.
"We hope every day something jogs someone's memory. Someone can't do this and get away with it," she said.
"It's not hard to stay hopeful. There have to be details out there that someone must know."
Ms Vanrooy said it was good to see that her sister's case had not been forgotten.
She praised Victoria Police for offering the $100,000 reward for information on Ms Howard's murder.
Police said while there had not yet been a response to the photograph, it often took days for people to come forward to Crimestoppers.
"I think it's good people still think about it; the pressure has to be put on," Ms Vanrooy said.
"Someone has to come forward. Maybe this article and the reward will help someone to step forward, even if they are scared, or it will get the person who is living with doing this to crack."
Ms Vanrooy spoke frankly about the effect losing Ms Howard had on her family.
She said the family had no choice but to wait and hope someone with information came forward and helped to solve the case and give them closure.
"It's affected our lives totally. It's still as fresh for us as the day it happened," she said.
"You learn to deal with the grief, but even four years later it's like yesterday and I don't know if that will ever change."
Anyone with information on the case should call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
