Police have offered a quarter of a million dollars for information on a couple who never made it home from a Western Australian prospecting expedition two years ago.
Raymond, 47, and Jenny Kehlet, 49, went camping in the barren Mid Western desert, 30 kilometres from Sandstone, a small town 730 kilometres north-east of Perth.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts (pictured) hopes the reward will help solve the case and bring the family closure
A widespread search was launched in March 2015 after their pet dog showed up at Sandstone caravan park unaccompanied.
Mr Kehlet’s body was later discovered down a disused mineshaft, two kilometres from the couple’s camp, but Mrs Kehlet has never been found.
The search area had presented major challenges from the outset according to Police Commissioner Chris Dawson.
‘It’s about the most remote area you can find on the planet,’ Mr Dawson said.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts said she hopes the reward would help solve the case and bring the family much needed closure.
‘We want to leave no stone unturned when it comes to solving this outback mystery,’ she said.
‘The offer of a significant reward can make a difference in people coming forward with information.’
‘We want to solve this murder. We want to solve the disappearance.’
Police have offered $25,000 for information on what happened to the couple two years ago
Raymond (left) was killed and Jenny Kehlet (right) went missing after they went prospecting in the barren Mid Western Australia desert in March 2015
Police are hesitant to label Mr Kehlet’s death as murder, saying they were skeptical of drawing conclusions without solid answers.
‘The death of Ray is being regarded as a suspicious death and homicide squad are involved,’ Commissioner Dawson said.
‘The circumstances (of the case) are suspicious and there are unexplained matters that we need to give answers to.’
He believes there is someone who knows something about what happened to both Raymond and Jenny.
Mr Kehlet’s body was later discovered down a disused mineshaft, two kilometres from the couple’s camp
Family members explained the struggle they’ve faced over past two years in a statement issued on Thursday.
‘The last two years have seen our family caught in an agonising and exhausting limbo, desperate for answers and for closure,’ the statement read.
‘We are thankful that the police are still actively pursuing answers for our family and hope that the offer of a reward may bring together the missing pieces of our family’s tragedy.’
The search area had presented major challenges from the outset according to Police Commissioner Chris Dawson