THE Bombala Times spoke with the daughter of missing woman, Sylvia Pajuczok this week, with her family being upset by untrue reports that Sylvia had been seen in Wollongong in January of 2009.
Belinda Hillier spoke with the Times to confirm that no such sighting had taken place, and express that Sylvia has definitely not been seen since her disappearance from the Rockton area on Christmas Eve 2008.
Belinda explains that a woman loosely matching Sylvia’s appearance was seen in a Wollongong Hotel on January 4, 2009, but as soon as the report was made, family had viewed the CCTV footage of the supposed sighting.
“It was definitely not mum, no way in the world,” Belinda said.
“As far as we are concerned mum never left Rockton.”
Sylvia’s family actually viewed the footage of the possible sighting shortly after the claim was made to police, and were able to confirm in the same month that the woman shown was not the missing Eden grandmother.
“It was cleared up over a year ago,” a frustrated Belinda explained.
Unfortunately the Missing Persons Unit released the information that Sylvia had been seen, without being fully aware of the homicide investigation surrounding her disappearance.
Family is now concerned that people will wrongly believe Sylvia went to Wollongong, putting a whole different light on the investigation.
Detectives from the Monaro Local Area Command confirm that Sylvia has not contacted anyone, her bank account has not been accessed and personal belongings were left behind when she disappeared.
Amongst the items left behind in her abandoned van were her mobile phone, cigarettes, and a pair of reading glasses.
“I can tell you mum saved so hard for those glasses, and when I saw them on the floor of the van I knew, no, she would never just leave those behind,” Belinda said.
To the best of police and family knowledge, Sylvia was last at a friend’s property in Rockton on December 24, 2008 where she had an argument and was asked to leave.
While police have maintained that her van was then found abandoned on the highway nearby, it has now been revealed by a number of witnesses that the green Tarago was actually seen in that position earlier on December 24.
“We’ve asked a lot of questions about where mum’s car was, and we now know it was sighted on the highway prior to her leaving that property,” Belinda says.
This is newly released information, with police confirming that there were sightings of the van abandoned on the highway in the daytime of December 24.
Family stresses that this is why it is so important for people to get in touch with police if they saw anything around the time of Sylvia’s disappearance that may be of help to the investigation.
“It gets harder and harder everyday,” Belinda said of coping with her mother’s disappearance.
“Even a tiny little bit of information might be important.”
In particular police are seeking information on a white van seen parked near the Rockton home Sylvia had been visiting when she vanished.
“If you were travelling in a white van in that area at the time, or saw one, we want to talk to you,” Queanbeyan Detective, David Kay said.
“We need to talk to you,” Belinda emphasised.
Anyone who can assist the investigation surrounding Sylvia’s disappearance is urged to contact the Monaro Local Area Command on 02 6298 0599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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