CITY GANG LINK TO MAN'S MURDER
MOTHER'S DESPERATE PLEA FOR HELP
NEW details have emerged in the suspicious disappearance of Brisbane man Sam Robert Purcell-Price (inset).
Three years ago, Sam got into the front seat of a bright yellow Holden Commodore in Brisbane and vanished, believed to have been murdered, his body left somewhere on the Darling Downs.
There’s a strong connection to a criminal gang element in Toowoomba, and it was to those former associates Sam’s mother Leonie Price (right) yesterday pleaded with to come forward and help give her family answers.
A DISTRAUGHT mum has called on a gang of Toowoomba criminals to speak to detectives about their role in the death of her 25-year-old son.
Sam Robert Price-Purcell described previously by police as a mid-level drug dealer - was last seen getting into a bright yellow 2010 Holden Commodore SS sedan in the Mitchelton area of Brisbane on February 16, 2015.
Police believe that car, or a white Subaru WRX, carried the young man to the Toowoomba area.
It is unclear where Sam was killed, but homicide detectives have not ruled out the chance he was dumped somewhere on the Darling Downs.
Speaking on the third anniversary of her son’s disappearance yesterday, Leonie Price sent a message to the people responsible for killing Sam.
“He is in our hearts and our thoughts every day, but we need to know what happened so we can have some peace,” Ms Price said, revealing Sam’s four younger brothers and five cousins were desperate for closure.
“If you know anything, please, please come forward and tell the police what you know so we can bring this to an end.
“It’s incredibly distressing for our family.
“Our lives have been permanently impacted by what’s happened to Sam.”
Police would not reveal any information about the criminal activities of the gang behind Sam’s murder.
However, they refused to rule out drugs or discount the chance that Sam’s body was dumped in the Darling Downs region.
“There is a strong connection to Toowoomba and the regional areas around Toowoomba where the vehicles were seen,” Detective Inspector Damien Hansen of the Homicide Group said.
“We have identified strong persons of interest and we are also aware of a number of persons who have assisted (the killers) after the fact.
“Some of these people are no longer mixing in those circles and have moved on with their lives, started families.
“This will not go away so I would urge those people to come forward.”
Police want to speak to anyone who saw the distinctive yellow Commodore or the white 2000 WRX sedan in the Toowoomba and Mitchelton areas in September 2015.
Detective Inspector Hansen said the WRX had since been repainted sky blue and it has a large black spoiler fitted.
Sam, who would now be 28, is described as being of caucasian appearance, about 185cm tall with a thin build, short brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is urged to phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.com.au. - NewsRegional
He is in our hearts and our thoughts every day, but we need to know what happened so we can have some peace.
— Leonie Price, mother of Sam Price