A $1 million reward will be offered for information into the suspicious death of Harmony Bryant, as NSW Police renew efforts to solve the 22-year-old case.
Harmony Bryant, aged 26, was found in bushland near Ocean Drive at Bonny Hills, south of Port Macquarie, on the morning of Saturday 16 August 2003.
Emergency services discovered her with severe injuries, including burns to 60 per cent of her body, as well as a broken pelvis and multiple fractures. Her Hyundai Excel was also found on fire about 200 metres from the roadway.
She was taken to hospital but died three days later, on 19 September 2003, as a result of her injuries.
Investigations later found evidence that Ms Bryant may have fallen from a nearby cliff before being assisted back to her vehicle by an unknown person or group of people.
Police also established she had booked accommodation for two people at the Mid Pacific Caravan Park the day before the incident, however the second person has never been identified.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said any detail, no matter how small may provide the answers police need.
“It’s been over 20 years since Harmony’s death and in that time her loved ones have lived with the grief of not knowing what happened to her on that night.
“Despite the passage of time, the NSW Police have not given up their search for answers.
“If anyone out there knows what happened to Harmony, they now have one million reasons to come forward. Even the smallest detail may be the missing piece police need to solve this horrific crime.”
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi, hopes this reward will bring the information detectives need to make an arrest.
“The reward is an opportunity for someone to help deliver justice and bring long-overdue closure to Harmony’s family,” Det Supt Doueihi said.
“Our investigation has established that Harmony was not alone that night. We are confident someone in the community has information that help us identify the second person.
“Anyone with information, not matter how small, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
The case was initially investigated by Mid North Coast Police before being referred to the State Crime Command Homicide Squad under Strike Force Behl in 2007 at the request of the Coroner.
A 2011 inquest found Ms Bryant died from burns caused by a person or persons unknown.
Despite extensive investigations over more than two decades, no one has ever been charged.
A $100,000 reward was previously announced in 2011, but authorities have now increased that to $1 million in a renewed appeal for information.
The inquest also revealed the case was initially treated as a non-suspicious incident, with early investigative opportunities missed in the critical hours after Ms Bryant was found. The Coroner noted that key leads were not pursued at the time, prompting the later referral to the homicide squad.
Police are now urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward as they continue efforts to piece together the events leading up to Ms Bryant’s death.
The increased reward is intended to encourage new witnesses to speak up or for existing information to be brought forward, as investigators continue to pursue answers for Ms Bryant’s family.
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