Nanette Ellis

Announced February 2014

Homicide Squad detectives have today announced an increased reward of up to $500,000 for information surrounding the death of Nanette Ellis in February 1984.

Thirty years ago to the day, 41-year-old Nanette Ellis was attacked and killed in her family home in Manuka Drive, Boronia.

Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said 30 years on, the motive for Nanette’s murder was still unknown and appealed for anyone with information to come forward and help provide some answers for her family.

“Ms Ellis was a friendly, 41-year-old single mother working as an advertising manager for the Free Press local newspaper when she was killed,” he said.

“She had no known criminal associations and was well liked by those who knew her.

“While over the years, Homicide Squad investigators have processed more than 800 pieces of information, we still don’t have any suspects or a motive for Ms Ellis’s murder.

“A $50,000 reward for information was announced on 25 September 1985, which has unfortunately yielded no information.

“But there is someone out there who knows what happened to Ms Ellis on that evening back in 1984. 

“Thirty years is a long time for someone to carry that information with them - we hope increasing the reward to up to $500,000 will encourage that person to come forward.”

On 10 February 1984, Ms Ellis went to work as normal and made plans to go out to dinner that evening with a number of work colleagues.

At around 5.15pm, Ms Ellis was seen by a passer by pulling into the driveway of her Manuka Drive house in her yellow 1982 Toyota Corolla sedan.

Sometime after entering the house, Ms Ellis was attacked by an unknown offender(s) and stabbed a number of times. 

Her body was found at the rear of the family home shortly after 6pm by her 16-year-old son Greg who had been at a neighbour’s house watching TV.

In the days leading up to her death, Ms Ellis’s vehicle was the subject of a number of rock throwing attacks on her way to and from work. A number of other vehicles in the area were also damaged in the same way around the same time.

Following the rock throwing incidents, her car was also subject to a series of vandalism attacks in her driveway where paint was tipped over the car, the tyres were slashed and the radio aerial and number plates were removed.

The incidents were investigated by local police, however no suspects were identified and no clear link was able to be established between the rock throwing incidents and the vandalism, or her death when later investigated by the Homicide Squad.

A reward of up to $500,000 will be paid at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner, for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Nanette Ellis.

The Department of Public Prosecutions will also consider granting indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders.

Anyone with information about Ms Ellis’s death is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au(opens in a new window)