A MOTHER is desperately hoping a $100,000 reward announced to help solve an Armidale cold-case mystery will finally give her the answers she’s been searching for for almost 23 years.
Fairfax Media revealed on Thursday the deputy premier Troy Grant and New England police had doubled the reward for information leading to the remains of William ‘Bill’ Roach.
Mr Roach disappeared without a trace from Armidale on December 31, 1993, and since then, his mother Yvonne Roach has been trying to find out what happened.
“It never goes away, you think of it everyday, and we always will until we know what happened,” she told Fairfax Media.
The $100,000 reward offer comes just months after a police probe into the historical case was re-opened.
Strike Force Annan was launched by New England detectives who believe the 25-year-old met with foul play.
“Mr Roach’s family deserve to know what happened to him. They have waited long enough for answers about his disappearance,” Police Minister Troy Grant said.
Fresh information has come to light through the re-opening of the case, and Mrs Roach is hoping someone might have the the missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle.
“I’m getting older and I want to know what happened before I go,” she said.
“I just really want to know, I can’t let go.
“I really do appreciate the fact people are coming forward, after all these years with information because I know it will help.
“The $100,000 reward is a lot of money and I hope it does help someone to come forward with what they know.”
Mr Roach was last seen walking along Grafton Rd in Armidale on December 31, 1993. His remains have never been found and Mrs Roach has never been able to properly farewell her son.
“We can't have closure until we know and closure is what we want,” she said.
