$100,000 for info on missing toddler
KINGSTON
A $100,000 reward and immunity from prosecution are being offered by police for information about the disappearance or death of Southland toddler AmberLee Cruickshank.
Her family say it is their last hope of finding out what happened to the toddler — who vanished without a trace almost 29 years ago.
She was last seen on October 17, 1992, at Kingston, at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu.
AmberLee was with her mother, Nicky, stepfather and baby brother — the family had left their home in Invercargill and were heading to the West Coast to start a new life together.
They stopped at Kingston for a night to catch up with friends.
After an afternoon beside the lake and a barbecue, the toddler vanished and despite exhaustive land and water searches there has been no sign of her in almost three decades.
Police met AmberLee’s family — who now live in the Christchurch area — late last year and a reward was discussed.
After working through the approval process at Police National Headquarters the reward was confirmed last week and announced publicly yesterday.
Police will pay up to $100,000 for material information or evidence which leads to the identification and conviction of any person or people responsible for AmberLee’s disappearance.
They will also consider immunity from prosecution for any accomplice who provides information or evidence as long as they are not the main offender.
Detective Inspector Stu Harvey, of Invercargill, said after 29 years police hoped someone would finally come forward and help them solve the mystery.
‘‘While we don’t know where she is or what happened, we believe she may have been the victim of foul play,’’ Det Insp Harvey said.
Police had conducted a significant number of inquiries into AmberLee’s disappearance, he said.
‘‘We have gone to great lengths to explore different scenarios and investigation leads without success.’’
Harley Cruickshank was just 5 years old when his sister vanished. He was staying with friends of the family while his mother and stepfather relocated and was to join them once they had unpacked and settled in.
He said there had been a constant void in his life but he tried to maintain hope she would be found.
‘‘Having to relive it every day, every birthday, every Christmas or memorial — it takes its toll on us,’’ he said.
‘‘I can’t imagine the pain my mum goes through.’’
Like his mother, he vowed never to give up on AmberLee.
‘‘All I can say now is please, if anyone knows anything, speak up — change our lives, and your own.’’
Mr Cruickshank said the reward was not about speculating on what happened or people passing judgement on the case.
The focus was on bringing her home — not on what happened, he said.
Danny Cruickshank also spoke about his missing sister, saying it had been hard growing up without her, and living in the shadow of the mystery.
‘‘To watch Mum going through all the heartache and not being able to do anything . . . has been hard,’’ he said.
‘‘Now that I’ve grown up and got a daughter of my own I can’t even bear to imagine how hard and painful it truly is.
‘‘Our sister did nothing to deserve this and yet she was the one to suffer,’’ he said.
‘‘If anyone knows anything — speak up. You owe whoever is responsible for this nothing.’’
Anyone with information about the disappearance is asked to contact police or pass on information anonymously to Crimestoppers. — New Zealand Herald