Reward Offered in 1981 Cold Case Murder

A rare $1 million reward has been offered for information leading to the resolution of the 1981 sex assault and murder of 25-year-old Haroula Kipouridou in Melbourne, Australia.

Kipouridou's body was discovered in a jammed lift around 2:30 AM on July 3, 1981. This occurred approximately 30 minutes after her work friends had dropped her off at her mother's residence in Richmond's commission flats.

Detective Acting Sergeant Leigh Prados stated that Kipouridou had been violently attacked, bashed, strangled, and left semi-naked.

Police described the attack as having a high level of brutality.
Prados emphasized the determination to solve the 45-year-old case for Kipouridou's siblings, who seek answers.

Investigation Details

Several suspects have been interviewed by investigators. Police are considering potential links to other similar crimes that occurred during that period. Detective Inspector Dean Thomas noted that police maintain confidence in solving this and other cold cases, acknowledging the families' desire for continued investigation.

Public Appeal

Police are issuing a public appeal, urging individuals with knowledge of the crime to come forward. Prados stated that the appeal targets people's conscience, suggesting that witnesses may reflect on information they possess as time passes. The investigation specifically seeks anyone who interacted with Kipouridou on the night of her death.

At the time of her murder, Kipouridou was engaged and working as a singer at a Greek tavern on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. While the establishment no longer exists, investigators hope community members can recall details from 1981 to assist the ongoing inquiry.