The 1998 murder of the Ashburton schoolgirl remains one of New Zealand's most high-profile cold cases.

Kirsty disappeared on December 31, 1998, while walking the family dog Abby on the banks of the Ashburton River.

The day after Kirsty went missing, the family's dog Abby was found tied to a tree near the river, and the teen's underwear was nearby.

Her body was found two weeks later, hidden in dense scrub almost 50km away. 

To date, no one has been arrested for her murder and police recently announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her killer - or killers.

DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIRSTY BENTLEY CASE? 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via their non-emergency phone number 105 and reference Operation Kirsty. Alternatively, you can call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

READ MORE ON THIS CASE IN THE HERALD:

Kirsty Bentley murder: Police offer $100,000 reward in Ashburton cold case

Kirsty Bentley cold case: Police focus on stranger abduction lead

Kirsty Bentley murder cold case: Killer may have already been spoken to by police

The 1998 murder of the Ashburton schoolgirl remains one of New Zealand's most high-profile cold cases.
Kirsty disappeared on December 31, 1998, while walking the family dog Abby on the banks of the Ashburton River.
The day after Kirsty went missing, the family's dog Abby was found tied to a tree near the river, and the teen's underwear was nearby.
Her body was found two weeks later, hidden in dense scrub almost 50km away. 
To date, no one has been arrested for her murder and police recently announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her killer - or killers.
DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE KIRSTY BENTLEY CASE? 
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via their non-emergency phone number 105 and reference Operation Kirsty. Alternatively, you can call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
READ MORE ON THIS CASE IN THE HERALD:
<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kirsty-bentley-murder-police-offer-100000-reward-in-ashburton-cold-case/5QS6ESS5BC2JXPIGI54QFLFZ7I/">Kirsty Bentley murder: Police offer $100,000 reward in Ashburton cold case</a>
<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kirsty-bentley-cold-case-police-focus-on-stranger-abduction-lead/TJLKO436WFKEAXASIASBV6JK6Y/">Kirsty Bentley cold case: Police focus on stranger abduction lead</a>
<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kirsty-bentley-murder-cold-case-killer-may-have-already-been-spoken-to-by-police/LFZVZOFV4VC3BX6T5VAKIVXCXM/">Kirsty Bentley murder cold case: Killer may have already been spoken to by police</a>

From the NZ Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime - a podcast delving into some of New Zealand’s biggest cases.

Anna Leask has been a crime and justice reporter at the Herald for more than a decade.

Each month she'll take you inside some of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders and behind the scenes of high profile trials and events to show you what’s really happening in your backyard.

From the NZ Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime - a podcast delving into some of New Zealand’s biggest cases. Anna Leask has been a crime and justice reporter at the Herald for more than a decade. Each month she'll take you inside some of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders and behind the scenes of high profile trials and events to show you what’s really happening in your backyard.

From the NZ Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime - a podcast delving into some of New Zealand’s biggest cases.

Anna Leask has been a crime and justice reporter at the Herald for more than a decade.

Each month she'll take you inside some of our...

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