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$500,000 reward announced to find missing ACT mother - Queanbeyan

Monday, 26 August 2024 11:01:59 AM

PLEASE NOTE: Images are available on the NSW Police Facebook page.

The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police Force, has announced a $500,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of Laura Haworth more than 15 years ago.

The last confirmed contact with Laura, then aged 23, was on Saturday 5 January 2008, was from a house in Collett Street, Queanbeyan, New South Wales.

A week later, Laura’s red Mazda 121 was later located at Kanangra Court, Reid in the ACT.

Despite extensive investigations, the mother of two, has never been found and Police believe she may have met with foul play.

In July 2024, Strike Force Viking was established, a joint investigation by ACT Policing and NSW Police to re-examine the circumstances surrounding Laura’s disappearance and suspected murder.

To assist with ongoing investigations, the Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, has announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the disappearance or death of Laura Haworth.

“It’s critical that anyone with information passes that onto police who have worked tirelessly to investigate Laura’s disappearance,” she said.

“Laura’s family have been without their loved one for over a decade and we hope this reward goes some way toward providing answers.

“My appeal to the public is; if you know something, there is now five hundred thousand more reasons to come forward.”

Monaro Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Grey said he hoped the reward announcement may lead to a breakthrough in the case and is widening the scope for information.

“We believe there is someone out there that knows something about Laura’s disappearance. Queanbeyan and Canberra during the Summer holiday period is a transient area with people travelling back and forth from the Coast. In addition, with Summernats on the weekend Laura disappeared, there could be people out there from other parts of the state who may have been in the ACT and have information,” Detective Chief Inspector Grey said.

“We plead for those people to help bring Laura home and provide some closure for Laura’s family who have now been forced to celebrate 16 birthdays and special holidays without Laura. They deserve to know what happened to their daughter, sister and mother.”

Anyone with information about Laura’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.