It’s been a decade since the last sighting of Victorian woman Krystal Fraser. Now, off the back of a recent tip-off, Victorian Police have emphasised the importance of this missing persons case by offering a reward of $1 million for information that point them to understanding what happened to Krystal, and her unborn child in 2009.
Per The Age, Victoria Police have revealed that newly-obtained intel into the disappearance of Krystal suggests that the last person to have seen her alive may be behind her suspected murder. The tip-off has led police to believe that Krystal’s disappearance may involve her romantic partner at the time.
Missing Persons Squad Detective Acting Inspector Julian Horan has said this relationship, and Krystal’s pregnancy, may have let to friction between the couple, resulting in the murder of the mother-to-be and her soon to be born child.
“It has been 10 years since Krystal’s disappearance,” Inspector Horan explained, “Her unborn son would have been 10-years-old, it is unimaginable to try and understand what the family must have lived through over the past decade.”
Through their investigation, Police have established a timeline around Krystal’s disappearance from North Central Victoria. On the day of her disappearance, detectives believe Krystal traveled on the V/Line train from Bendigo to Pyramid Hill. She was last seen leaving the Pyramid Hill residence of an acquaintance at 9:30pm.
It’s the events that happened immediately after that police are focusing on.
“Important to the investigation is that Krystal received a 40-second phone call on her mobile phone; we know it was from a public phone booth outside the Leitchville Post Office in Findlay Avenue at 11.59pm, on 20 June, 2009,” Inspector Horan said.
“We also know Krystal’s phone last showed activity on a Leitchville phone tower at 2.49am, nearly three hours after she received the call from the phone box, this indicates to us that the phone was in the Leitchville or surrounding area.”
On the night of her disappearance, Krystal discharged herself from hospital against the recommendation of staff. Krystal told both friends and hospital staff that she was going to attend a party in Cohuna, a region about 10 minutes from Pyramid Hill.
Police believe that the phone call Krystal received was related to the party.
Inspector Horan added, “Investigators strongly believe that the caller was the last person to speak to Krystal prior to her disappearance.” Krystal’s mobile is yet to be recovered.
Police hope that the new information, paired with the increased reward which was originally capped at $100,00 may result in further tip offs from the public.
Furthermore, The Director of Public Prosecutions will also consider offering indemnification from prosecution to anyone who may be able to provide information about the offender, or offenders. However there will be strict guidelines before it’s offered.
