Kristy Lee Williams died from a single stab wound to the chest on June 21, 2003 in Front Street, Erambie, and to date the person responsible has not been identified.

She was just 22.

A decade now after her daughter’s death, Kristy’s mother Cathy Ryan hopes Saturday’s service will bring closure for her and enable her to move forward.

Cathy has never stopped searching for answers to her daughter’s death.

Dozens joined her at a ten year anniversary service at Erambie on Saturday, where a plaque was unveiled, a garden created and balloons set adrift.

Family and friends shared their grief and memories.

Last year, a public plea from Cathy produced some more information and feedback about her daughter’s death, but nothing has progressed since.

An inquest in the years following her death determined Kristy had been stabbed but never answered the question by whom.

In 2009, police also offered a $100,000 reward to help break the cone of silence and produce an arrest.

Cathy said it is time for her family to move forward and they hope to create a peaceful spot at Erambie for her.

Cathy said Kristy always loved Erambie and returned there to be with her family.

It is not the same though, for Cathy.

“I used to love Cowra, but now my childhood, and everything has been taken with Kristy’s death.”

If you can help with the investigation into Kristy’s death, contact Crimestoppers 1800 333 000 or the Cowra police station on 6341 5099.

Cathy’s plea to the public in June 2012:

“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.”