Australia: Investigation continues into the murder of Joan Canino Ryther, police release CCTV footage
The investigation into the tragic rape and murder of a Brisbane woman continues, as Queensland Police released CCTV footage and still images of people who were in the area of the murder last Tuesday night.
Joan Ryther
Image/R.I.P Joan Canino Ryther Facebook page
On May 21, 27-year-old Joan Canino Ryther was walking to work along Mayes Avenue or Leichhardt Street between 8.30 and 10pm that evening. The next morning, her body was found at the front of a residence on Leichhardt Street.
She was eight weeks pregnant.
Detective Superintendent David Hutchinson said in a media conference Wednesday, “We seek to have these images broadcast and we would ask those people to come forward.” Hutchinson clarifies that these people are not suspects.
“They are merely people who we have identified as being in the area at the time and we wish to speak to them to eliminate them and to … determine what they saw.
“Potentially they could have seen something which is very relevant to the investigation.”
One of the CCTV still images released by Queensland Police
Video Screen Shot
Det. Hutchinson says,”The CCTV footage covers the time period from 8 pm to after 9 pm – one on a footbridge over the railway line that brings pedestrians onto Mayes Ave and another near a Wembley Rd service station.”
When asked whether anyone has come forward that was traveling in those areas that evening, Hutchinson explains, “We’ve had lots of people come forward, a good response from the public.”
However, the several people in the CCTV images have yet to be identified.
Concerning suspects in this heinous crime, the Detective said they have “no firm suspects”. “But we do have quite a few avenues of inquiry that we are following.”
Hutchinson would not speculate whether it was a single attacker or a group. He was not prepared to talk about the forensic examination of the crime scene.
When asked if he thought the perpetrator would strike again, Hutchinson said, “I just don’t know if would strike again, I doubt very much its going to happen again.”
“The sad part about it is that these things do happen – they happen in towns and countries and cities all over the world,” he said.
Hutchinson called the murder of Joan Ryther a “savage and brutal attack”. “It’s been inflicted on a lady that’s 152cm and weighs about 47kg who is doing nothing more than going to work to earn an honest living”, he said.
Joan Ryther’s husband, Cory Ryther, posted the following on Facebook yesterday concerning the Queensland Police: It seems in all of this I have forgotten one very important thing! To the dedicated Woman and Men of the Queensland Police force I am truly truly grateful all the hard work your doing in relation to my Dear Joan. I have 100% faith in you and believe your doing the best job possible and working as hard as can. Good on ya!!!
In addition , the Centre Against Sexual Violence held a community gathering today to remember Joan Ryther.
According to a Perth Now news report today, Mr Ryther broke down as he addressed the gathering, pleading with the public to never forget his wife and unborn child.
“My Jo was my everything, she was everything to me and now she’s gone – and she’s gone in the worst possible way,” a sobbing Mr Ryther said.
“Bashed, stripped of her dignity, the new life inside of her extinguished, before ever having the chance to see the light of day.
“She should have been safe. She should have felt safe on the way to work.”
The Centre Against Sexual Violence is also taking up donations for Joan Ryther’s family in the Philippines. The website states, “Joan will be returned to her family in the Philippines. Her family depended economically on Joan. Your donation whether big or small is greatly appreciated.”
Queensland Police say that anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.
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