Gregory John ARMSTONG  

Gregory John ARMSTRONG was last seen in Maryborough, QLD on 7 May 1997. He was seen outside the Commonwealth Bank in Maryborough that morning and was later seen by a friend during the afternoon. He was reported as a missing person to Maryborough Police on 22 May 1997. ARMSTRONG was a known identity in Maryborough and was often seen in local hotels and cafes. It is strongly believed that ARMSTRONG has been murdered and that his body has been disposed of. It is also believed that ARMSTRONG was known to those persons involved in his disappearance. ARMSTRONG is described as 183cm tall, brown eyes, light brown hair and has a tattoo of a bird on his right arm. When last seen he was wearing shorts, a white t-shirt and thongs.

QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE

MISSING SUSPECTED MURDER OF GREGORY JOHN ARMSTRONG

$250,000 REWARD

The Minister for Police and Corrective Services has approved a reward of $250,000 be offered for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Gregory John ARMSTRONG at Maryborough on or about 7 May 1997. INDEMNITY FROM PROSECUTION: In addition, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the crime, who first gives such information. The allocation of the $250 000 reward will be at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of the Police Service. CIRCUMSTANCES: Gregory John ARMSTRONG was last seen in Maryborough on 7 May 1997. He was seen outside the Commonwealth Bank in Maryborough that morning and was later seen by a friend during the afternoon. He was reported as a missing person to Maryborough Police on 22 May 1997. ARMSTRONG was a known identity in Maryborough and was often seen in local hotels and cafes. It is strongly believed that ARMSTRONG has been murdered and that his body has been disposed of. It is also believed that ARMSTRONG was known to those persons involved in his disappearance. ARMSTRONG is described as 183cm tall, brown eyes, light brown hair and has a tattoo of a bird on his right arm. When last seen he was wearing shorts, a white t-shirt and thongs. Any member of the public with information which could assist Police is asked to contact: • the Homicide Investigation Group, Brisbane, Phone (07) 3364 6122; • any Police Station; or • Crime Stoppers, Phone 1800 333 000.

 - Office of the Commissioner of the Police Service, BRISBANE R ATKINSON COMMISSIONER

The 30-year-old was last seen outside a Commonwealth Bank ATM in Adelaide St, Maryborough, on the morning of May 7, 1997.

The circumstances surrounding his suspected murder remain unknown and his final resting place has never been found.

It’s a mystery that has unsettled many in the community and a case that still plays on the mind of residents and former cops alike.

Since that week in 1997, Greg’s mother Pat and father Colin have died, taking with them the anguish of not knowing what happened to their son.

Greg had a slight intellectual impairment that saw him lured into the region’s drug underworld.

Police believe his trusting nature saw him easily tricked into giving away drugs for free, racking up a large debt, and possibly a bounty on his head.

This week, detectives revealed they are investigating new leads and getting closer to finally establishing what happened.

Now aged 52, Greg’s old brother Mark has chosen to has break his silence exclusively to The Sunday Mail.

He believes his brother’s murder shaved years off his parents’ lives.

“It had a huge impact on (our parents) and I don’t doubt it sort of prematurely aged them or prematurely ended their lives,” Mark said from his home near Ballarat last week.

Greg had relocated to Maryborough from Beaufort in Victoria about a year before he disappeared.

He worked as a painter by day and was reported missing two weeks after he vanished.

“He was a very, very hard worker. He took a lot of pride in his work ethic,” Mark said.

“He was a little bit slow with his learning. I guess some people would take advantage of him because of his learning disability.

“I don’t doubt that that’s had some input into his demise.”

Mark hopes after two decades that someone will come forward with information that will allow him to bring his brother’s remains home.

While investigators remain tight-lipped about their new leads, The Sunday Mail can reveal their inquiries centre on the movements of a particular group – many of whom still live in Maryborough.

In March 2005, state coroner Michael Barnes found that Greg was likely murdered by a drug associate in a forest near Maryborough.

In May 2006, police received new information that led them to search the Tuan Forest, southeast of Maryborough. They found nothing.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Karen Murray, from the Cold Case Unit, said a reward of $250,000 remains in place.

“Like all cold cases, with the passage of time, we get different opportunities that might not have been available when it was originally looked at,” she said.

“For us, this investigation has fairly recently been subject to a reopen and review. The way that works is that we pretty much review all of the documentation, we brief senior management and we come up with some strategies.

“Due to the nature of his disappearance, police are of the belief that there are additional witnesses that are still to come forward in this case.”

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.