Kirsty Bentley and her dog Abby
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
Map of Ashburton River bank
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
The Asburton River bank showing where Kirsty's dog and her underwear were found
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
Photograph showing approach to bridge in Rakaia Gorge
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
Kirsty entering shop on the day she disappeared
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
Kirsty leaving the shop on the day she disappeared
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
A green Commer van similar to this one has been seen in the Ashburton township and Rakia area between 27 December 1998 and 10 January 1999.
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Copyright 2007 New Zealand Police
Kirsty Bentley, aged 15 years, was reported missing on the afternoon of 31 December 1998 when she failed to return home after walking her dog in the Ashburton riverbank area.
Her Labrador dog and her underclothing where found on the riverbank area the following morning
Location of Body
The body of Kirsty Bentley was found in the pine plantation opposite Camp Gully, Rakaia Gorge area on Sunday afternoon 17 January 1999.
Police are still interested to hear from anyone who was in the Rakaia Gorge area and in particular Camp Gully between Thursday 31.12.98 and Sunday 17.01.99
Kirsty was captured here on video entering and leaving the Ashburton Warehouse on 31 December 1998. Do you recognise her? Have you seen her at any other time?
Summary
Staff working on the Operation Kirsty Homicide inquiry are continuing to focus their attention on locating the Commer van.
The investigation has been hindered by the fact that a lot of these vans are sold or swapped without registration, or in some cases the vans have not been registered for a number of years.
To date, the occupants have not come forward and the van has not been located.
Information is still coming in from the public nominating suspects.
The Inquiry team is still keen to hear from anyone, anywhere, who has information or feel that they can assist the inquiry in any way.
We are still here and as keen as ever! We do appreciate your continuing support.
What the Police need to know
- Who does own or has owned a 1965 Commer van?
- Who has any further information that may assist the inquiry?
- Who was on the Ashburton River bank between 3.00pm and 5.00pm on the afternoon of 31 December 1998 in the area where Kirsty walked her dog
- Who has access to a vehicle and had the opportunity to remove Kirsty to the Rakaia Gorge area without having to offer an explanation about where they had been for several hours
- Who has moved out of the Ashburton area unexpectedly since 31.12.98 or has undergone behavioural changes, particularly since the 17 January 1999
Commer Van Sightings
A Commer van similar in appearance to the one shown has been seen by a number of witnesses in the Ashburton township over December 1998 and January 1999.
About 3.40 pm on Thursday the 31 December 1998 a person parked at the intersection of South Street and Chalmers Avenue ASHBURTON, observed an unidentified female aged approximately 15 years walking a black Labrador cross dog in a southerly direction along Chalmers Avenue.
The girl is described as European, mousy coloured hair, about shoulder length. The hair was out loose, not tied back. The hair was reasonably straight.
The girl was about 5 foot tall and quite a slight build.
She was described as wearing a yellow long skirt down to her ankles and a black short- sleeved t-shirt type top. The t-shirt had a short-sleeve in it, as opposed to a singlet type top.
This girl has still not been identified and Police are still keen to talk to her. It is believed she frequented the Tinwald area in Ashburton and may have worked at The Warehouse in Central Christchurch of suburbs.
She was believed to be carrying a white hessian sack type bag that had a long strap over her shoulder and across her chest on a diagonal. The bag was sitting around her right hip area.
The witnessed noticed that the dog was pulling the girl.
The witness observed the girl look back over her shoulder and then observed what he believes to be a green Commer van driving down Chalmers Avenue also in a southerly direction. The van was travelling very slowly, approximately 15 km per hour, and was approaching the female from behind.
The van passed the female and stopped on the corner of Chalmers Avenue and South Street. The female was walking towards the van, as the witness drove off along Chalmers Avenue.
Neither the driver nor any occupants of the van were observed by witness.
Police have been making enquires with South Island owners of such vans without having identified this vehicle or driver.
Previous media releases have been made relating to the girl walking the dog without that person coming forward or being identified.
Police are keen to speak to the driver or occupants of the Commer van or the girl seen walking the dog.
Contact the investigators
Please contact us with any information that might help the investigation:
Telephone 03 363 7400
Detective Inspector Greg Williams
Ashburton Police
cnr Cass and Havelock Streets
PO Box 34, Ashburton
All information will be received in the strictest confidence and can be provided anonymously.
