Police are ramping up their attempts to catch the people suspected to be behind a 20-year-old double murder.
A combined $1 million reward is now being offered by the NSW and Queensland governments into the cold case murder of Frederick Rosson (aka Slim Johnson) and the suspected murder of Iain Hogg in 2002.
Detectives believe the two men were killed by the same people, and that robbery was likely the motive behind both of their deaths.
On March 11 2002, witnesses have described a flash and a loud bang, believed to be a gunshot, fired near Iain Hogg’s distinctive red Toyota Celica, which was parked in a Tweed Heads carpark.
“It is believed that Mr Hogg was killed, before his body was placed into the Tweed River; however, his body has never been found,” a NSW Police spokesperson said about the incident.
It’s believed that two men stole Mr Hogg’s car before driving it to Frederick Rosson’s Mt Nathan property three days later to meet him about a gun he had advertised for sale.
He died from one gunshot wound to the head, with police suspecting he was killed with his own pistol
Witnesses described two men arriving at the property between 11am and 1pm with the vehicle, however, no one has been charged with the murder.
Bullets from the gun found in the red Celica which was dumped at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast before being discovered on March 20.
Crime manager for Tweed/Byron Chris Elliott, said while much remained unclear, investigators believe that the same people were responsible for each murder.
“We are confident that the car used to access Mr Rosson’s home was Mr Hogg’s Toyota Celica, and we believe the same men were involved in each incident,“ Mr Elliott said.
“The families of these men deserve closure having dealt with the uncertainty of what happened over two decades ago.
“To those in the community who know what happened to Mr Rosson and Mr Hogg, and it‘s time for you to come forward.”
Police are considering all avenues in the investigation according to detective acting inspector Adam Bennett from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch.
“It is never too late to come forward. Relationships and loyalties change, people who were once scared may no longer be, and we would encourage these persons to come forward,” he said.
“Police would like to directly appeal to the LGBTIQ+ community or anyone who knew Mr Hogg leading up to his death in March 2002 as he was a very private person, and any personal information may assist with this matter.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she hoped that community members would come forward “with anything suspicious or untoward they might have heard or seen at the time.”
“Investigators have never given up on finding answers for the loved ones of Frederick and Iain, and today, the NSW Government reaffirms their ongoing support for the investigation,” Ms Catley said.
Anyone with information that might assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.