Family photos...Kristy Lee Williams in her younger years, including a Santa photo with brother Robert. Below: Kristy’s headstone.
The passing of almost a decade has not lessened the need for answers for the family of murdered Kristy Lee Williams.
It has been nine years since the death of Kristy on June 21, 2003, in a home at Erambie, an indigenous community at Cowra.
She was just 22 years of age.
An inquest in later years determined Kristy Lee was stabbed, but no one has ever been arrested regarding the crime.
Her mother Cathy Ryan has carried the fight to discover exactly what happened to her daughter and has again appealed to the public as the anniversary of her daughter’s death approached.
She has written a letter appealing for answers on why her daughter is gone.
Here is her plea:
“As from a mother's perspective speaking on behalf of my family and the Williams family, we only seek the truth, we need some light shed on this devastating trauma that we all endured with the loss of our beloved Kristy Lee.
“We all have anticipated with great concerns: How? Why? What? When? With?
“Who would do such a thing and keep this a hidden dark secret? Was this an act of jealousy? Was this a tough rough act to put on a show to say don't mess with me or else to scare Kristy Lee and it just got out of hand?
“Was this the intention of the persons/s involved to actually cause harm to Kristy Lee?
“Did the perpetrator or the other people involved premeditate the whole act?
“Who is involved - was it one, a couple, a few, or was it many?
“Or was this an accident that just went wrong?
“We often wonder how you sleep at night - is your conscience like a time bomb ready to explode? Do you look at us with complete guilt knowing that you hold the key to solving my daughter Kristy's murder case?
“Do you honestly believe you will never be caught for the vicious crime?
“These are the some of the many unanswered questions still to this very day which remain a dark mystery to all of Kristy Lee's family, including myself as her mother.
“As Kristy Lee's mother, and for my children's sake and my daughter’s extended family members, especially her grandmother Lenore, we urge you to please come forward with any vital information in regards to the night in question, the night that my precious beautiful daughter's life was wrongfully taken.
“Lift this heavy burden that you carry with you and help bring those person/s to justice that are involved in my daughter's death.
“You have taken Kristy Lee's life and cut it short, she was so young at the tender age of just 22 years.
“She did not even have the opportunity to experience life as a mother herself, or to get to know her younger brother Steven, who was just seven years of age at the time (currently 16 years), she also did not get to see her current nieces and her nephews from her younger sisters who have recently given birth.
“You have emotionally and mentally affected us all in so many ways that we cannot comprehend.
“You have changed our lives dramatically and the hurt you have caused our family, you're gutless actions inflicting pain on my daughter and taking her life has been nothing but a cowardly act of violence.
“Please hear our cries for help, lift the dark, heavy burden that haunts us each day and night.
“Even if you think that is may be nothing, it won't matter how big or small it may be, let us know so that justice can prevail and those who may be involved are accounted for.
“Each piece of information is vital to assist in solving my daughter Kristy Lee's case.
“We all know that somebody out there knows something, and we all know it's affecting you as much as it is affecting us.
“We plead with you to confess, speak out, we urge you to release your dark secret, to let my daughter Kristy Lee rest in peace, so we can all have some peace of mind as well.
“Let my daughter Kristy Lee RIP.”
Cathy explained more about the circumstances of her daughter’s life at Erambie.
“Kristy had returned to the place she always called her home Erambie Mission.
“She always stated that she wanted to be back home with her father Maxie Williams Snr, whom is also deceased. She adored her father very much, being with his side of the family made her feel as though she was still with him at all times.
“Kristy Lee believed she was always safe, knowing this is the place that she had grown up alongside her big brother Robert before they moved away.
“No matter where they resided Erambie Mission was their home.
“Erambie Mission was home to all of Kristy Lee's family, her great grandmother May Williams nee Laurie (aka Mumma) and great grandfather Lee Williams (aka Daddy), her grandmother Lenore along with great aunties Margaret, Dorothy, May, Wendy (deceased), Fay, Lola, great uncles John (deceased), Maxie (deceased) and all of her cousins.
“Kristy Lee believed that she would be safe and protected from harm, knowing she was among family and friends. Who would have thought that she would have had her young innocent life cut short by some cowardly act of violence?
“Unfortunately how wrong were Kristy Lee and I ,as her mother and her siblings Steven, Tenica, Kaya, Robert, Silia and all of Kristy Lee family members and the rest of the community members there on Erambie Mission.”
If you can help with the investigation into Kristy’s death, contact Crimestoppers 1800 333 000 or the Cowra police station on 6341 5099.