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On Thursday the 6th of November 1997, at approximately 3.50pm, Jane Thurgood-Dove, drove into the driveway of her home address at Muriel Street, Niddrie, with her three young primary school aged children.
As she got out of her car, she was chased by a man wearing a face covering and then shot in the back of the head. She died on the concrete driveway of her home a short time after being gunned down, in the presence of her three children. She was only 34 years old.
The Homicide Squad need your help and are seeking information regarding the murder of Jane.
We know that Jane was returning home after collecting her eldest two children from their local Primary School, which she did every school day.
The offender was seen getting into the passenger side of a Holden Commodore sedan. This vehicle was later located by Police, a short distance away, burnt out.
Despite a thorough and extensive investigation over the past 24 years, the person, or people responsible for Jane’s murder remain unknown. Detectives have been unable to establish a motive for Jane’s murder.
Jane was a married mother of three young children and has been described as a loving and protective mother. Her family have worked tirelessly with Investigators in a quest to find the answers to what I would describe as a callous attack on a defenceless mother, wife and daughter.
We urge you to review this case, and all available details, and to contact the Homicide Squad should they hold any information in relation to Jane’s murder.
What might seem like a small piece of information, could just be the last missing puzzle piece, and may be enough to help us solve the murder of Jane Thurgood-Dove.
Homicide Squad detectives are continuing to appeal for information in relation to the murder of Jane Thurgood-Dove in Niddrie in 1997.
The 34-year-old mother of three was gunned down in front of her children in the driveway of her Muriel Street home on 6 November, 1997.
On the afternoon of her death, Jane had picked up her three children from school and preschool and had just arrived back at her house.
It was around 3.40pm when Jane stepped out of her 4WD while her children, aged 11, six and three, were still seated in the back.
A stolen metallic blue Holden Commodore pulled up outside the front of her property and a gunman stepped out and shot Jane while she stood in her driveway.
The Holden was later found torched in nearby Farrell Street.
Detectives have interviewed a number of persons of interest over the past two decades, however no one has ever been charged with Jane’s murder.
Two of these persons of interest have since passed away.
Police believe a number of people connected to Jane’s death are likely to remain at large in the community, including the person responsible for organising the shooting and the driver of the getaway vehicle.
A reward of $100,000 was initially offered for information in relation to Jane’s death, however this was subsequently increased in 2003 to $1 million.
The Director of Public Prosecutions will also consider an indemnity from prosecution to anyone providing information that leads to the conviction of the person or persons involved.
Detectives believe the passage of time may mean someone in the community is now able to come forward and tell investigators what they know about the young mother’s death.
Police also believe that Jane was sadly the victim of mistaken identity and not the intended target of the shooting.
Police have released a photo of Jane and urge anyone with knowledge of who is responsible for her murder to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via the Crime Stoppers
Reviewed 29 June 2021