William (Bill) ROACH

DOB: 1968

Bill was last seen at Armidale on 31 December 1993. He liked to travel the north coast of New South Wales and did so extensively.

Police Investigate Missing Person as Murder Case

20 September 2005

Detectives from New England LAC are investigating the disappearance of a man 12 years ago as a murder case.

William “Bill” Roach, 25, was last seen alive on New Year’s Eve in 1993 when his uncle Jim Roach dropped him off into the Armidale town centre.

At the time, the part-time student at the University of New England was living on a property approximately 20km outside Armidale, called “Springvale”.

Despite a few unconfirmed sightings, Bill has not been seen since and his family has had no knowledge of his whereabouts or even if he was dead or alive. He was listed as a missing person.

Last year detectives from Armidale received fresh information from the public that Bill was murdered. Strike Force Annan was set up as a result and is investigating Bill’s disappearance and suspected death.

Today in Armidale, more than 50 people, including police from the diving unit, Forensic Services Branch, local general duties and a number of SES workers, are conducting a thorough search of the property “Springvale” and other locations to try and find Bill’s body and other evidence.

Detectives from the Strike Force will be travelling to Sydney and Brisbane next week to interview people they believe could assist the investigation further.

“The information we received last year has given us new leads with which to investigate what happened to Mr Roach,” Detective Sergeant Greg Lamey from New England LAC said.

“Basically, he just disappeared off the face of the earth. However we believe now he is a victim of foul play.

Friday, September 23, 2005. 8:27am (AEST)
Missing man may have been murdered:

Detectives from the New England local area command in north-west New South Wales are investigating a number of leads in connection to the disappearance of a man 12 years ago.

William "Bill" Roach, 25, was last seen alive on New Year's Eve in 1993.

New information was given to police last year that he may have been murdered.

A search of his property, near Armidale, was completed yesterday.

Forensic officers took a number of items for further examination.

As a result of the information, detectives have travelled to Sydney and Brisbane to continue their investigation.

Search fails to find body of victim
Friday, 23 September 2005 - The Armidale Express

AN EXHAUSTIVE two-day search of a property north of the city this week failed to uncover the body of former University of New England student William 'Bill' Roach, who was believed to have been murdered in Armidale 12 years ago.
More than 50 members of the police and SES, including police divers, combed the rugged area 20km north of Armidale on Tuesday and Wednesday - finding no trace of Mr Roach's body.

However forensic services officers took a number of items for further examination during the search of a property and house.

Detectives have travelled to Sydney and Brisbane to interview people they believe can assist with the investigation.

Bill was last seen alive on New Year's Eve in 1993 when his uncle Jim Roach dropped him off into the Armidale town centre.

While studying at UNE, Bill was living at a property north of Armidale.

Bill's disappearance was treated as a missing person case until police announced on Tuesday that new information suggested foul play was involved.

Officers are now appealing for anyone with information about Bill Roach's murder to contact them on 6771-0699 or call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333-000.
Witch link to missing man
By Kristy Reading - Northern Daily Leader
Monday, 26 September 2005

NEW ENGLAND detectives are investigating a number of leads following last week's public appeal for information on the disappearance of William "Bill" Roach in 1993.
Police say Mr Roach may have been cursed by a coven of witches after he had mocked them at a secret ceremony he visited with his practising witch girlfriend.

Police say his state of mind may have put him in a risky position where he may have been subject to foul play.

Mr Roach's mother Yvonne told a Sunday paper he was going through a "weird time" experimenting with marijuana, witchcraft and dungeons and dragons.

Police will not reveal if anything was found during last week's search of his home "Springvale" and surrounding property, including waterways.

Mr Roach, 25, was last seen on New Year's Eve in 1993 when his uncle dropped him into the Armidale CBD.

Strike Force Annan was formed last year to investigate his disappearance after new information was given to police that he may have been murdered. Last week strike force officers made a public appeal for more information.

As well as the appeal, forensic officers took a number of items for examination after a search of Mr Roach's previous residence.

Police and Strike Force Annan are still appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 6771 0699 or call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

Inquest likely into fate of missing man
By Matt Adams
Tuesday, 1 August 2006

AN INQUEST is likely to be held into the case of a university student who disappeared from the Armidale area almost 14 years after being "cursed by witches".
The whereabouts of William "Bill" Roach remains a mystery, as inquiries into his disappearance reveal he was possibly the victim of foul play.

A special strike force was set up last year to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance around New Years 1993.

The then 25-year-old was last seen in the Armidale central business district and was a part-time student at the University of New England.

In a bizarre twist, it is understood Mr Roach was cursed by a coven of witches weeks before he vanished after earlier mocking them at a secret ceremony he visited along with his girlfriend.

Strike Force Annan detectives, Forensic Services Group officers, police divers and State Emergency Service volunteers searched the property Springvale, 20km north of Armidale, in the hope of finding Mr Roach's remains following new

information.

Mr Roach was living at the two-house lot with an alternative community while a part-time student at the UNE prior to his disappearance.

NSW Police Missing Persons Unit officers and New England Local Area Command detectives tracked down Mr Roach's natural mother following an extensive search.

Mr Roach's adoptive mother and natural mother met for the first time earlier this year and now share a special bond as they seek information on where their son is.

An inquest is likely later this year or early next year with the matter reported to the State Coroner.

Police highlight missing person cases
Wednesday, 2 August 2006. - ABC

Northern New South Wales police have used Missing Person's Week to renew an appeal for help to find an Armidale man who has been missing for more than 13 years.

Bill Roach was 25-years-old when he went missing and was a part time student at the University of New England.

Sergeant Mark Samways from the missing persons unit says the resources put towards finding anyone reported missing are enormous.

He has called on those who have been out of contact with family for some time to make some form of contact to let them know how they are doing.

Sergeant Samways says it can be a difficult time for friends and family of the missing person.

"The research has shown that for every missing person up to 12 people are very closely affected by the person going missing," he said.

"It may raise a few concerns amongst the families and bring memories to the surface but all in all the families that I speak to say they will use any opportunity to use the publicity to locate their loved ones."

Strike force detectives renew appeal for public help into Armidale man’s disappearance 16 years ago

Friday, 04 Sep 2009 05:21am

Detectives conducting inquiries into the disappearance of a man from the state’s New England region almost 16 yers ago have renewed their appeal for public assistance.

Bill Roach, then aged 25, vanished from the Sunnyvale area, near Armidale, on New Year’s Eve 1993.

Mr Roach was last seen walking out of Armidale along the Grafton Road in the afternoon or early evening of that day.

Strike Force Annan, comprising police from New England Local Area Command, was established in 2003 to examine anonymous information shedding new light on Mr Roach’s disappearance.

Exhaustive investigations have uncovered several fresh leads, including the identification of new persons of interest.

An inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of Mr Roach commenced at Glen Innes Coroner’s Court yesterday (Thursday 3 September) before Mr Michael Holmes.

Earlier this week, NSW Police Minister Tony Kelly announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the location of Mr Roach.

Inspector Greg Lamey, who is leading the investigation into Mr Roach’s disappearance, said his family is still holding out hope he’ll be found.

“Mr Roach’s family and friends have been left devastated and with som many questions about what happened to him,” Insp Lamey said. “Detectives have been working hard behind the scenes following up every new piece of information, while Mr Roach’s mother Yvonne, has never given up the search for her son.”

Strike Force Annan is continuing its inquiries.

“If you have any information that might help investigators – no matter how insignificant you think it might be – please contact us via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” Insp Lamey said. “After 16 long years, the Roach family deserves closure on what has been a heartbreaking chapter of their lives.”

Student missing 17 years sparks $50K reward

Posted Thu Sep 3, 2009 1:18pm AEST

The New South Wales Government is offering $50,000 for information that will help find a university student who went missing at Armidale nearly 17 years ago.

Police say they have exhausted all their leads in the case of Bill Roach, who was last seen in Armidale, in the state's New England region, on New Year's Eve in 1993 when he was 25.

His disappearance sparked an investigation that spread to Brisbane and Sydney and included a search of an Armidale district property in 2005.

A coronial inquest will begin today into the disappearance.

Missing man cold case sparks plea for leads

Posted Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:21am AEDT - ABC

Police have renewed an appeal for information relating to the disappearance of an Armidale man more than 15 years ago.

Bill Roach, 25, a part-time student at the University of New England, went missing around New Year's Eve in 1993.

New information suggests he may have travelled to the Bowraville area, on the New South Wales mid-north coast, after vanishing.

A coroner's inquest into Mr Roach's disappearance is part-heard and last year the Police Minister announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Mr Roach's whereabouts.