Police Appeal For Two Anonymous Witnesses To Come Forward In Gordana Kotevski Case.

 BY IAN CROUCH

Strike force investigators believe two anonymous callers from three decades ago could have vital information about one of the Hunter's most baffling cold cases.

Gordana Kotevski was 16-years-old when she was last seen being bundled into a vehicle on Powell Street at Charlestown about 9.00pm on Thursday November 24, 1994.

She was walking to her aunt's house after shopping at Charlestown Square.

A 2003 inquest concluded she was deceased and her death was the result of foul play.

Investigators from Strike Force Bambil are now calling for two anonymous witnesses, both males, to come forward.

One had phoned Newcastle Police Station at about 6.50pm on December 5 1994 to provide "specific information about a person's involvement in the matter".

Two years later, on September 18 1996, a man contacted radio station KOFM in Newcastle and spoke to a presenter, providing similar specific information.

Police say both calls were anonymous and detectives are urging the callers to come forward and speak with investigators about the information they hold. 

It comes nearly four years after the state government increased the reward for information about the suspected murder to $1 million in 2022.

The men, or anyone else with information are being urged to call Belmont detectives on 4922 8774 or get in contact via email at SFBambil@police.nsw.gov.au.

   

Gordana Kotevski

Permanent Tribute To Missing Hunter Teen To Adorn Cardiff Shopping Centre Wall

 BY IAN CROUCH

Work is due to start next week on a permanent memorial to missing Lake Macquarie teenager, Gordana Kotevski.

Renowned mural artist, Reuben Boughtwood has been commissioned to paint a 26-metre long artwork of Gordana at the Cardiff Shopping Centre.

The mural has been made possible by donations from the community amounting to $22,000.

16-year-old Gordana was last seen in November 1994 being forced into a vehicle on Powell Street at Charlestown.

A $1 million dollar reward remains on offer for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons responsible for Gordana's disappearance.

 

Gordana Kotevski

Strike Force Arrest Over Alleged Gateshead Abduction in the 1980's

 BY IAN CROUCH

Detectives attached to a strike force investigating the disappearances and suspected killings of three Lake Macquarie teenagers have arrested a man as part of their investigations.

Strike Force Ararapaima was formed in April 2019 to investigate the unsolved cases of Robyn Hickie, Amanda Robinson and Gordana Kotevsky.

As part of those inquiries, detectives arrested a 62-year-old man at a government facility in Silverwater on Monday.

He's been charged with four offences relating to the alleged abduction of a 16-year-old girl at Gateshead in the 1980's.

The arrest is unrelated to the investigation concerning Robyn Hickie, Gordana Kotevski and Amanda Robinson.

 The man and will face Newcastle Local Court on March 13.

Strike Force Arapaima is investigating the disappearances and suspected killings of Amanda Robinson, Gordana Kotevski and Robyn Hickie

DNA collection program offering hope for families of Hunter missing persons

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A pop-up DNA collection centre is in the Hunter today, in the hopes of helping families locate their lost loved ones.

It's part of a National Missing Persons Week program, with investigators from the State Crime Command's Missing Persons Registry running a number of the centres across New South Wales.

There's hope the program could help police find out what happened to some of the Hunter's most high-profile missing persons cases, such as Gordana Kotevski, Amanda Robinson, and Robyn Hickie.

Registry Manager Glenn Browne says investigators will use the information to draw possible genetic links with unidentified persons or human remains.

"Generally when someone's reported missing these days, we try and get their direct DNA sample very quickly, by seizing personal effects like toothbrushes and hairbrushes," he said.

"But for a lot of our older cases, we didn't gather DNA. We didn't understand the importance of DNA."

The Newcastle collection centre is open from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday, in the Banquet Room at Newcastle City Hall.

Investigators are also running pop-up centres at Surry Hills, Dapto, and Penrith throughout the week.

Mr Browne says it's a simple process for relatives. 

"All people need to do is turn up to our DNA collection centre in Newcastle," he said. "We take a quick swab from their mouth, and from that swab it gets sent off to our laboratories and they develop a DNA profile from that swab."

"That DNA profile then goes on to a very specific index, in both the New South Wales and national databases, where it can only ever try and match against the DNA profile from unidentified bodies.

"There's absolutely no risk at all that anyone might come along and provide a sample and we'll discover that they committed a crime ten years ago. 

"Legally, we're not allowed to even try and find links between these samples that we get through these centres, and other DNA profiles that have been developed from crime scenes and things like that."

Police earlier this year announced a $1 million reward for information into the disappearance of 16-year-old Gordana Kotevski in 1994.

BREAKING! $1milion Reward Offered For Information Into Disappearance Of Gordana Kotevski

The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police Force, will today announce the reward for information into the suspected murder of Lake Macquarie teenager Gordana Kotevski has been increased to $1 million.

Gordana Kotevski, aged 16, was last seen being forced into a vehicle on Powell Street, Charlestown, while walking from Charlestown Square Shopping Centre to her aunt’s home on the same road about 9pm on Thursday 24 November 1994.

Despite extensive investigations at the time, and over the years, Gordana has not been located.

In a Coronial Inquest into Gordana’s disappearance in 2003, then State Coroner, Mr John Abernethy, found that Gordana Kotevski was deceased, most likely as a result of foul play.

To assist ongoing investigations, the NSW Government and the NSW Police Force announced the reward has now been increased to $1 million.

The new reward coincides with International Missing Children's Day.

 

Gordana Kotevski

Police Launch Fresh Appeal For Missing Teen Gordana Kotevski

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are using Missing Persons Week to renew their appeal for information into the disappearance of Lake Macquarie teenager, Gordana Kotevski more than 25 years ago.

The 16-year-old was last seen being forced into light colored utility on Powell Street at Charlestown at about 9.00pm on Thursday November 24 1994.

Gordana had been shopping at Charlestown Square and was walking to her aunt's home when it's believed she was abducted.

Lake Macquarie Superintendent Danny Sullivan says its been a quarter of a century of unknown and heartache for Gordana's friends and family.

"She was a teenager, she had her whole life ahead of her. There are people in the community which have vital information which could help detectives solve this case."

"Anyone who lived in or visited the Lake Macquarie area in late 1994, please cast your mind back and recall of you noticed a light colored utility in around the area of Powell Street in Charlestown."

In a statement, Gordana's family said the impact of her disappearance has taken its toll on her parents, siblings, extended family and friends.

"Missed special events, like the recent birth of her nephew bring with it a stark reminder of the emptiness left my her disappearance, the passage of time has not made the acceptance of the situation any easier."

"It is unacceptable that for over 25 years we are still waiting on answers. It is unacceptable that the persons responsible can continue their lives unaffected. It is unacceptable that people who know the secret which can unlock this mystery remain silent."

Superintendent Danny Sullivan says anyone who comes forward with information, can remain anonymous.

"These types of cases are literally like a puzzle, and sometimes people are holding a small piece of that puzzle in total unrealization that they have that missing piece."

Missing Lake Macquarie Teenager Gordana Kotevski

Supt Danny Sullivan Picture: dailytelegraph.com.au