Michelle Bright was last seen by a friend who dropped her off in Herbert Street in Gulgong on February 27, 1999, after she attended a friend’s birthday party. 

Three days later, her semi-naked body was found facedown in long grass by the side of the road. 

In a Facebook discussion this week, Michelle’s friend Kate Hayes posted a photograph of Michelle on the 60 Minutes Australia page in the hope that someone would come forward with information. 

“Like the rest of Australia, the conviction of Daniel Morcombe’s killer was a huge relief,” Ms Hayes wrote in a post that has been shared 23,500 times and attracted 2900 comments. 

“ I knew his face, his name, and his story. I heard pleas for information from his family. I remember watching footage of his disappearance being re-enacted on the news to jog the memory of anyone with information relating to his disappearance.

“I remember thinking, “those poor bastards, they will never find out what happened to their son.”

”The reason I thought that was because when we were 17, my friend Michelle Bright walked home from a party in our small country home town.

“She was sexually assaulted and found dead on the side of the road three days later. Despite a coronial inquest and the largest ever reward for information ($500,000), no one has been charged with her murder.” 

Ms Hayes said if more people knew of Michelle’s story, more people might come forward with information. 

”Someone, somewhere, must know something,” she said. 

“The $500,000 reward would be life changing. But it would be nothing compared with the relief that the conviction of Michelle’s killer would bring to her family, and the wider community stunned all those years ago by her death.

“Not to mention, someone as dangerous as Daniel’s killer will be behind bars, and unable to devastate other families. 

”So, please - share this post, look at her face, remember her name. And if you know something, contact the Police”. 

People with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.