The father of a man who vanished without a trace 20 years ago has made a heart-wrenching appeal as detectives reissue their call for information on the cold case.
Simon Knight was just 32 when he disappeared after being spotted at a Crown Street hotel on the morning of July 21, 2005. His absence raised alarms when he failed to turn up for his shift at a Newtown café later that day.
At the time, the aspiring chef’s whereabouts left investigators with scant evidence to pursue. The call comes as a new three-part documentary titled Amy Bradley Is Missing has been released on Netflix, has shown just how much public interest there is in missing person cold cases.
Despite thorough investigations initially and throughout the years, Simon, hailing from Redfern, remains missing. A second coronial inquest conducted in 2015 concluded that it was probable Simon had met with death, yet no remains have been discovered, leaving the details of his fate a mystery.
South Sydney Police Area Command’s detectives are persistently probing Mr Knight’s mysterious disappearance under Strike Force Glenlea. In a bid to uncover new leads, the NSW Government magnified the reward for information regarding Simon’s case to $250,000 in November 2020, reports the Mirror.
Simon was last described as a Caucasian male, standing at 183cm tall, with blue eyes, a fair complexion, red hair, and facial hair. It is believed that on the day he vanished, he was donning a dark green T-shirt paired with blue jeans.
Yasmin Catley, Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, emphasised that despite the years that have passed, Simon’s family is desperate for closure. She remarked: “Losing a loved one is devastating, but the not knowing makes the loss so much harder.
“Today we appeal to anyone who might have the smallest piece of information, which can help police bring answers about Simon’s disappearance for the Knight family.”
South Sydney Police Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Christopher Hill expressed his belief that there is someone out there with knowledge about Simon’s disappearance. Mr Hill urged: “To support this search for answers, anyone who may have held onto information since Simon’s disappearance, is urged to come forward.
“We are keen to speak with anyone who lived or frequented Crown and Oxford streets, Surry Hills, in July 2005, particularly if they knew Simon and have not yet spoken to police. Any piece of new information – no matter how seemingly insignificant – could be the key to solve this case and help provide much-needed answers to Simon’s family about what happened to him.”
Simon’s father, Bob Knight, expressed gratitude towards the police for their ongoing efforts, despite it being 20 years since Simon’s disappearance. He stated: “Our family are still waiting, hoping one day we will get answers and closure. So please if you know anything, please get in touch with the police or Crime Stoppers.”
The substantial reward of $250,000 is on offer for information leading to the discovery of Simon Knight’s whereabouts or shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.