Jane Thurgood-Dove

Announced November 2007

Homicide Squad detectives believe the passage of time may provide a new window of opportunity in helping solve one of the state’s most shocking murders.

It is more than 11 years since the death of 35-year-old Niddrie mother of three Jane Thurgood-Dove.

Mrs Thurgood-Dove was gunned down in front of her children in the driveway of her Muriel Street home about 3:40pm on Thursday 6 November 1997.

Nobody has been charged in relation to her death despite ongoing appeals to the public, the Director of Public Prosecutions offering an indemnity from prosecution to anyone providing information leading to the conviction of any persons involved and two rewards - the first for up to $100,000 and another for up to $1 million.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said he believed an unknown person still holds the key to finally identifying those responsible for the young mother’s death.

"I believe to this day that somebody in the community knows who killed Jane and why".

"I’m hopeful that with the passage of time these people may finally be in a position to come forward and share what they know" Detective Inspector Thomas said.

Police identified two men, Steven John Mordy and Jamie Reynolds, as being persons of interest in relation to Mrs Thurgood-Dove’s death.

However Mordy died from an alleged heart attack in his Geelong North home in 2000 and Reynolds died in a boating accident at Barwon Heads in April 2006.

Detective Inspector Thomas said there was still an opportunity to solve the case despite two persons of interests being deceased.

"We have never identified the driver of the getaway car. That person is still out there in the community and somebody we would very much be interested in speaking to".

"Somebody knows who that person is and we are appealing for them to come forward".

"Ten years is a long time for Jane’s children and family to live without answers and as long as there is a chance we may be able to find them we will pursue those involved" he said.

He said the person responsible for organising Jane’s death was also still at large.

"The person responsible for planning this crime is still out there in the community and they should be held accountable for their role in Jane’s death".

"We hope this public appeal will provide us with the necessary information to identify all the persons who played a part in this horrendous crime so that we can prosecute them to the full extent of the law" Detective Inspector Thomas said.

A reward of up to $1M will be paid at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner of Police, for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Jane Thurgood-Dove.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will 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 in this matter.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au(opens in a new window)