By Kath Gannaway
The murder of Yarra Junction pensioner Terrence Black in 2000 has remained unsolved for 18 years.
Police are now hoping the announcement on Sunday of a $1 million reward will help solve the murder and end almost two decades of heartache for his family.
Mr Black was the eldest of four children and his sister, Pam, and brothers, Steve and Lindsey, joined police in Sunday’s appeal.
He also has a son and a daughter.
While police have identified three people of interest associated with the murder, they also strongly believe that there are other people out there with information vital to solving the case.
Mr Black’s body was found by police on 16 June, 2000, in the Little Yarra River, at the rear of a rural property on Little Yarra Road in Gladysdale.
The 59-year-old, who lived at the Yarra Junction Caravan Park, had been reported missing by his brother Lindsay on 18 May.
Police said the last reliable sighting of Mr Black was two weeks before on 5 May between 9am and 10am when he was seen in the car park of a supermarket liquor store in Yarra Junction.
During the investigation, police received information that he may have been murdered in a toilet block at the Yarra Junction football ground on that day.
Detectives believe this was after his reliable sighting in the car park, up to late afternoon on that day.
During an extensive investigation over the years police said they identified three persons of interest.
Two men, one now 58 and one now 68, have previously been interviewed, along with a woman who passed away in 2014.
All three people were known to Mr Black and police said the two men remain persons of interest in the investigation.
In 2004, a $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death and this recent announcement significantly increases that reward to $1 million.
Officer in charge of the Homicide Squad, Detective Inspector Tim Day, said the reward would hopefully lead to some answers for the Black family.
“For the past 18 years, Terrence’s family have had to live with the thought that those responsible for his death are still out there,” he said.
“The offenders have been able to go on with their lives, but Terrence’s family has had to live without a brother and a father.
“Detectives have spoken to several people over the years who remain persons of interest in relation to Terrence’s murder, however we also strongly believe that there are other people out there who hold information vital to solving this case.
“Eighteen years is a long time for them to live with this knowledge.”
He said they hoped the reward would prompt those people to reconsider their position and come forward.
Detective Inspector Day urged anyone with information to come forward and said they are particularly interested in Mr Black’s movements after 10am on 5 May, reports he was seen at the Yarra Junction football ground at some time up to late afternoon on that day, and what happened in the weeks leading up to the discovery of his when his body in Gladysdale.
“We’re keen to speak to anyone with knowledge of how Terrence’s body came to be in that location or noticed any suspicious activity in the area around that time.
“Any piece of information could prove crucial in solving this case.”
Police said that in appropriate cases, the Director of Public Prosecutions may consider, according to established guidelines, the granting of indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders.
Anyone with information about the murder of Terrence Black is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
