Massive reward for tip-offs in brutal murder cold case
A $1 million reward is being offered for information about the brutal murder of a 44-year-old singer who was found dead in the elevator of a residential tower.
Haroula Kipouridou was last seen alive in the early hours of July 3, 1981, after a shift at a hotel in Fitzroy, in inner Melbourne, where she was working as a singer.
Two employees had given the 25-year-old Richmond woman a lift after work to a residential tower on Elizabeth Street.
They dropped him off in front of the building around 2 a.m. and didn’t see anything suspicious at the time.
Ms Kipouridou’s body was found half an hour later on the floor of the tower’s elevator. She had been subjected to serious physical and sexual assault.
At that time, investigators interviewed many people, and homicide officers considered many people as potential suspects.
However, the police were unable to identify the culprit or criminals and no one was charged in connection with Ms Kipouridou’s death.
Victoria Police announced on Sunday a $1 million reward and prosecution compensation could be offered for information that helps solve the murder.
Homicide Squad detective inspector Dean Thomas said that for more than 40 years detectives had not given up on finding those responsible.
“Haroula’s death was nothing short of brutal,” he said.
“It involved a significant amount of violence and its final moments involved pain and fear.”
The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Ms Kipouridou’s death will be paid at the discretion of the chief police commissioner.
News reports at the time suggested police were focusing on one suspect, but police said there wasn’t enough evidence to say for sure that person was responsible.
A $50,000 reward was announced three months after his death, and authorities hope the renewed appeal will lead someone to come forward with information.
“We know that people who commit or are part of horrific crimes such as these will often reveal their actions to others,” Det Insp Thomas said. he said.
“People’s circumstances can change over the years and someone who previously did not want to give information to the police may now feel ready to do so.”
In 1983, a coroner made a clear finding regarding Ms Kipouridou’s death.
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