Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
Man arrested over Qld cold case murder

Police allege a Gold Coast woman was abducted and murdered by a teenager in 1983 after arresting a 51-year-old man on Wednesday.

August 22, 2018

A teenager abducted and murdered a 21-year-old Gold Coast woman in 1983, police will allege, after a major breakthrough in one of Queensland’s longest-running murder mysteries.

Newly-married Linda Reed disappeared during her lunch break while working at the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre on December 13, almost 35 years ago.

Her body was discovered three days later along with her light coloured Mazda sedan in bushland at Gaven.

On Wednesday police arrested a 51-year-old man following a recent reopening of their investigation into Ms Reed’s murder.

The man is expected to be charged with murder and face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.

It will be alleged the then 17-year-old abducted, assaulted and killed Ms Reed in what police said was a completely random attack.

Ms Reed’s husband Robert Reed thanked police for their tireless work.

“It’s been 35-years since my wife was taken from me, from Nancy and Oscar, her parents, Philipp, her brother, and we just want to thank the police for never giving up on try to find Linda’s murderer,” he said.

“We cannot thank the Queensland Police enough.”

Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Knight said the arrested man was staying on the Gold Coast at the time but had a transient lifestyle and did not appear to have any connection to Ms Reed before her death.

“Linda’s abduction and murder was completely random and had such a devastating impact on her family and the local community,” Snr Sgt Knight said.

“I commend the work of the officers who were involved in this case from the outset and thank the detectives and forensic officers who worked so diligently to bring this case to a resolution.”

In 2009 police announced they had reopened the case following a tip-off.

Witnesses from 1983 told police they saw a “baby-faced teenager” in the shopping centre car park with blond hair in a “pageboy” style cut.

Snr Sgt Knight said DNA advances had played a “significant” role in the arrest.

Comments are closed.

Latest Stories
archive
date published
March 2024
M T W T F S S
« Feb    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031