New South Wales Police have announced a $1 million reward for information regarding the suspicious disappearance of William 'Bill' Roach, who vanished from Armidale on New Year's Eve 1993. The 25-year-old was last seen on Barney Street and reported missing days later. The reward, increased from an initial $50,000, aims to encourage anyone with knowledge to come forward.
Mr Roach had attended a counter-culture festival eight weeks before his disappearance, where he claimed to have been cursed by witches. Friends believed he left Armidale seeking traditional healers, but Detective Senior Constable Mark Symons suggests possible involvement in the drug trade, as discussed in a police-commissioned podcast.
Despite extensive investigations, Mr Roach's body has never been found. Police received information that he was killed on a remote farm, with remains hidden in a deep waterhole before being burnt and buried elsewhere. Strike Force Annan was formed in 2004, and a 2010 inquest concluded it was likely Mr Roach had died, but the cause remained undetermined.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott stated, 'The pain of not knowing what has happened to a loved one is unimaginable, and we hope this reward could be the push that helps police find answers for the Roach family.' Detective Superintendent Steve Laksa added, 'William's family is living with the pain of not knowing where he is, and they have waited long enough for answers.'
Police urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact them. The Roach family continues to seek closure, with a relative saying, 'It has been 27 years since we have heard from Bill, and we just want to know what happened to him.'
