Dad recounts finding slain daughter
Megan Levy With Paul Millar SMH June 20, 2011
Father re-lives seeing murdered daughter
Victoria Police call for witnesses to the cold case murder of Cindy Crosswaite four years ago.
The family of murder victim Cindy Crossthwaite has joined homicide police to appeal for information about her death, four years after the single mother's body was found inside her home north-west of Melbourne.
The family of murder victim Cindy Crossthwaite has joined homicide police to appeal for information about her death, four years after the single mother's body was found inside her home north-west of Melbourne.
Her 13-month old son, Jonas, had been locked in a bedroom in the home and lay crying for hours before his mother's body was discovered.
Ms Crossthwaite's father Phillip discovered her body after a friend who had been trying to contact her raised the alarm.
Philip Crossthwaite choked back tears as he remembered the day he arrived at daughter's home and knew immediately that something was wrong.The television set was blaring even though there was a young child in the house.
When he unlocked the door he was met by a scene of horror and quickly realised that his daughter, whose body was already cold, had been murdered.
"I knew immediately that she was not alive," Mr Crossthwaite said.
He then started searching for Jonas.
"I had to walk through the blood to go and find him," he said.
Ms Crossthwaite was last seen dropping her 10-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son off at Coburn Primary School in Richard Road, Melton South, just a couple of blocks from their home in Andrew Street, about 9am on the day of her death.
Police have been told that a dark-haired man in his 40s — 1.78 metres tall, tanned and with medium to stocky build and possible facial hair — was seen loitering in the area. Police say he had been seen in the area the previous morning.
Mr Crossthwaite has described his daughter as a "marvellous person", devoted mother and talented artist.
Inspector Potter appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
"Four years on, circumstances change and someone who may not have felt they could speak to police before may now be ready to talk," he said.
"The smallest piece of information can make the biggest difference to an investigation.
"We are trying to provide Cindy’s family with some answers about what happened on the day of her death.
"Four years is a long time to spend not knowing what has happened and it is absolutely tragic."
Anyone with information has been urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.