A ONE-million-dollar reward is on offer to help solve the cold case bashing murder of a Victorian grandmother during a “burglary gone wrong”.<\/p>\n
Kathleen Severino, 70, was found dead in the bedroom of her Ballarat home on 1 January, 1988.<\/p>\n
Police say she suffered fatal head injuries after being “savagely assaulted” sometime between 10.30 and 11.30pm on New Year’s Eve.<\/p>\n
A witness reported seeing a man and woman near Ms Severino’s home at the time. The residence was\u00a0ransacked but nothing was stolen.<\/p>\n
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said on Wednesday he was the confident the murder was a “burglary gone wrong”.<\/p>\n
“In all probability she heard the burglary occurring and was … subjected to a horrendous bashing,” he said.<\/p>\n
“She disturbed someone in the house and as a result they’ve murdered her.”<\/p>\n
A 19-year-old man was arrested in 1990 but a murder charge against him was dropped after a witness revoked their evidence before trial.<\/p>\n
The man died in 2017 and investigators say he remains a person of interest along with one of his former associates.<\/p>\n
Ms Severino’s daughter Glenda says she can never forgive her mother’s killer.<\/p>\n
“All I know is they’ve had 33 years of freedom and they shouldn’t have,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had 33 years of hell. It’s still hard to believe that mum’s gone.\u00a0She was much loved.<\/p>\n
“It’s broken us up as a family. She’s missed out on so much in our family since she’s been gone.”<\/p>\n
Detective Inspector Stamper said he’s hopeful the $1 million offer will shed light on the case.<\/p>\n
“We know people who commit or are part of horrific crimes such as these will often disclose their actions to someone,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Despite the decades that have passed there is every reason to believe someone out there today knows what happened to Kathleen and who is responsible.”<\/p>\n
He said while three decades had passed, it wasn’t too late for her family to get justice.<\/p>\n
“Police will not stop until we get closure for Kathleen’s family, which can only be achieved by holding the individual or persons responsible for the brutal death of a much-loved grandmother to account,”\u00a0Insp Stamper said.<\/p>\n
He added it was possible an indemnity would be considered for anyone who came forward with information.<\/p>\n
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