Steven BrooksBarbara BrooksStacey Willoughby
Steven BrooksBarbara BrooksStacey Willoughby
Family Car

A large reward is being offered for information into the triple murder of a family in Deniliquin in March 2000.

The NSW Government is offering $250,000 for information leading to the conviction of person or persons responsible for the shooting murder of 38-year-old Steven Brooks, his wife Barbara, 34, and her son 13-year-old Stacey Willoughby.

On Thursday March 16, 2000 the bodies of Mrs Brooks and Stacey were found in their family car in the Millewa State Forest, 55km south of Deniliquin.

Four days later, the body of Steven Brooks was found in bushland 500 metres from where the bodies of his wife and stepson were earlier located. All three had been shot to the head with a .22 calibre weapon.

The family were last seen sitting in a car with an unknown man in Deniliquin's main street, the afternoon before their bodies were found. The identity of the man has never been established.

State Crime Command Homicide Squad detectives commenced Strike Force Rodi in 2000 to investigate the slayings but despite an extensive investigation no person has been charged.

Deniliquin man, Damiano Marando, was identified as a person of interest during an inquest held in Deniliquin in 2001 but Deputy State Coroner Jacqui Milledge found insufficient evidence for any charges to be preferred.

Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Hans Rupp described the murders as extremely heinous.

"This was an execution style killing of the worst kind with the life of a young boy taken in the most violent of circumstances," Det Insp Rupp said.

"We are appealing to anyone with information to come forward and assist detectives in finding the monstrous criminal or criminals responsible."


Do you have information that can help police with this case?

Any information you have about this is worth giving to police, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

You can provide information to police via any of the methods below:

Any information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Your help may give police the clue they need to close this case and provide some comfort for the families of victims.

How to claim your reward

  1. Contact Crime Stoppers or your local Police Station.
  2. Identify yourself and indicate you have information about a crime and that you wish to claim a reward.
  3. You will then be put in contact with a police officer involved in the investigation of that case.