Police launching a fresh appeal for information in a 30-year-old murder case say they have not ruled out the victim's husband as a person of interest in her death.
Investigators are offering a $1 million reward for information about the killing of 26-year-old Melinda Freeman, who was found dead in her home in Whittlesea in October, 1991.
Detectives said she had been assaulted and the house appeared to have been ransacked.
Earlier that day, Ms Freeman and her husband had been at a family reunion, but she had later been left alone in the house to study.
Police said her husband returned to the house to find the front door open and the body of Ms Freeman lying on the top storey landing.
In 2018, police received anonymous information from a member of the public about the case.
Despite a significant investigation, homicide detectives have been unable to solve the case, but today said they had a number of persons of interest in the investigation.
"The former husband remains a person of interest in this investigation, but we have to … be very open to the fact it may be some other person," Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said at a press conference this morning.
He said police had spoken to hundreds of people about the murder and were "unable to eliminate" many of them from the investigation.
Detective Inspector Thomas also acknowledged that the ransacking of the house and apparent burglary on the night of Ms Freeman's murder may have been staged.
He said police had spoken to Ms Freeman's husband many times and that the family was pleased by the announcement of the $1 million reward.
Police 'confident' case can be solved
Detective Inspector Thomas said police still did not know why Ms Freeman was murdered or what her final movements were in the last hours of her life.
At the time of her death, she had an infant son.
Detective Inspector Thomas urged anyone with information about the murder to come forward, particularly the person who provided anonymous information in 2018.
"I am very confident that this case can be solved, but it can't be solved without people sharing information that they have, and that's the reason for this reward," he said.
He said circumstances changed over the years, and that some people who initially did not want to inform police may now be ready.
"It is never too late to tell us what you know and any piece of information, no matter how insignificant you might consider it to be, could be exactly what investigators need," he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
