Mother renews plea for help in solving Penny’s murder

The grief Jeanette Hill and her family feels following the death of her beloved daughter Penny, murdered in Coolah 32 years ago, has naturally never diminished.

But her desire for a form of closure, to know what happened to Penny and who the perpetrator was remains equally strong.

“Someone in the town knows something,” Mrs Hill insists.

Several people who were in the close area at the time of Penny’s attack have passed away, but ‘there must be someone in town who knows’ Mrs Hill believes.

July 21 was the 32nd anniversary of Penny’s death. She died in John Hunter Hospital from injuries her attacker inflicted on July 8, 1991.

“I still believe someone knows what happened – someone has confided to someone about the murder,” Mrs Hill said this week.

“I never thought we would be still talking about it and no one has been apprehended.

“We always hope someone, somewhere will speak up,” Mrs Hill told The Courier.

“People say to me ‘do you think they will ever be caught and I say ‘well, you always have to have hope.

“I never give up hope.

“People do know. I don’t care what anyone says – people know. There would be townspeople who know but would be too frightened to talk.

“It’s 32 years since we lost her,” Mrs Hill said from her Toowoomba home yesterday. “Every day I am reminded of Penny, of the tragic way in which she was taken from us, and of the life she never got to live.”

The $1 million reward offered by the NSW government for information leading to a conviction for Penny’s murder still stands.

Mrs Hill, whose late husband Felix passed away just before the couple left Narrabri, now lives in Westbrook, near Toowoomba. Her son Andrew lives with her.

Mrs Hill said she rings Sydney police to discuss the case.

The detective, formerly based in Tamworth, who dealt with Penny’s case for years, still gets in contact on the anniversary of Penny’s death, which Mrs Hill appreciates.

“He sent a message, ‘thinking of you Jeanette, and your family.’”

In some cases where a significant reward is offered, a partner, or friend or spouse of the guilty person may have a falling out with the perpetrator and step forward with information which could lead to the $1 million reward, police have said.

Mrs Hill again urged anyone to come forward.

“Anyone with information can contact local police or Crimestoppers,” she said.

“Somebody, please, with the smallest amount of information – please come forward” Mrs Hill said.