At just 22 years old, Kristy Lee Williams’ life was cut short by a single stab wound to the chest on June 21, 2003 in Front Street, Erambie.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fifteen years on, there are still no answers as to who caused her death and a second memorial was held recently to honour her memory.
Kristy’s mother Cathy Ryan, and her cousin Janet Bell, said the unanswered questions remain a dark mystery to all of the family.
“It was two weeks after she turned 22, they cut her life short, she didn’t get to grow to be an Aunty or to be a big sister,” they said.
“We just need answers, emotionally, everyday it’s a struggle, 15 years is a long time to hold on to something with no answers.
“This is the whole family’s loss and grief, it’s an ongoing thing, none of us have moved forward and not a day goes by when we don’t think about her.”
In such a small community, the pair are surprised no information has been given to police about Kristy’s death.
A $100,000 reward from NSW police has failed to bring any information forward and both Cathy and Janet are pleading to the public that if anyone knows anything, to come forward and talk.
“It’s such a small community and to happen on an Aboriginal reserve,” they said.
“She was around family and friends, that watched her grow up, surely someone amongst them knows what happened.
“Come forward so we can have some closure and start moving forward, so Kristy can lay to rest.
“Its affected us all mentally, emotionally, spiritually. It’s sad the Elders are passing on and they haven't got answers, her grandmother is now getting dementia and she’ll never know who took her.”
Cathy’s call for members of the community to come forward has also been repeated by Cowra Police Inspector Adam Beard.
“Police echo the plea from the family of murdered Cowra woman Kristy Lee Williams for information,” he said.
“The family and community deserve answers and Kristy Lee Williams deserves justice.”
The memorial comes as the NSW homicide squad begins reopening and re-examining over 500 cold cases with fresh eyes and cutting-edge technology.
It’s something Cathy said should have happened sooner rather then later.
“I want the police to do their job, they need to want to solve the murder and speak to people, interview them properly,” she said.
“The police need to communicate with the families, there’s been no feedback whatsoever, it’s just brushed under the carpet.”
The request for "fresh eyes" to examine the cases came from victims' families, who also told Homicide Squad commander Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, they wanted more frequent contact with investigators.
"I've given an undertaking to victims that no case will be forgotten in NSW and just because it's been there for a decade or two doesn't mean we stop looking," he said.
