Graffiti has mysteriously appeared in Newcastle, marking the 29th anniversary of schoolgirl Gordana Kotevski’s abduction from a suburban street.
Key points:
- Gordana Kotevski was 16 when she was abducted in 1994
- A reward of $1 million is on offer to solve the crime
- Graffiti marking 29 years since her disappearance has appeared in the inner city
Tributes to the 16-year-old have appeared on several inner-city buildings and surfaces, as her disappearance continues to resonate with the coastal New South Wales community.
It was Thursday night shopping on November 24, 1994, when 16-year-old Gordana went to the local shopping centre in Charlestown, a suburb south of Newcastle.
On this day, 29 years ago, Gordana had planned to walk to her aunt’s house 500 metres away when she finished shopping, but she never made it there.
Her sister Carolina Kotevski said it had been a nightmare for her family ever since.
“Back then we only came home when the street lights went on and these things didn’t happen to people like us,” she said.
“You saw it on the movies but it was out of our wildest nightmares and thoughts that something like that would happen in such a small town.
“These people did not care who was there, who was watching.
“They obviously had a plan and they executed it with perfection because it’s 29 years and we don’t know what has happened to them.”
What is known is that Gordana was forced into a car, believed to be a white Toyota Hilux, and was never seen again.
A 2003 coronial inquest found she was deceased, most likely as a result of foul play.
Fresh investigation starts
In 2019, Strike Force Arapaima was set up to reinvestigate what had been deemed by police as one of Australia’s most notorious missing persons cases.
The strike force was headed up by Detective Sergeant Kristi Faber, who said it was a case that resonated around Australia.
“I think it resonates strongly because it’s quite unbelievable and hideous to think that a young girl was walking only 500 metres to where she was heading from a local shopping centre,” she said.
“This was such an opportunistic crime and I think that’s what resonates, is that it could have been any of our children or any of our teenagers walking in the same place.”
Graffiti for Gordana
Detective Sergeant Faber said while she did not condone the graffiti in Newcastle, it was heartening to hear Gordana’s memory living on.
“Obviously, it’s a way of someone in the Hunter community reminding everyone that we must never forget this crime,” she said.
“I think as a community and for the family, we can’t forget a crime where an innocent teenager is taken from our streets.
“It’s the most evil of acts from members that live within our community.”
For Ms Kotevski, it was emotional to learn that her baby sister had not been forgotten.
“It’s just surreal-like and beautiful knowing that she has still been remembered and for someone to do that,” she said.
“I know [graffiti’s] illegal but it was just beautiful to see her name there and her memory.
“To know that the community still has her in their heart and she’s not forgotten. It was just beautiful.”
She said her sister’s memory must be kept alive.
“She was just a ray of sunshine. She was my little confidant. She was younger than me by five years but much wiser than her years and she was my best friend.”
A million dollar reward was offered last year in a bid to solve the case and Detective Sergeant Faber said more people had come forward.
“There’s certainly progress on the investigation … the team has been working very hard on very specific lines of inquiries that have been uncovered, and we’ll continue to do so.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.