ALMOST 13 years ago Bathurst teenager Jessica Small and her friend, Vanessa, enjoyed a night out at an amusement centre.
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It was nothing out of the ordinary, the girls were close, almost like sisters, but they were young and naïve, and trusted the wrong person.
After hanging out at the amusement centre the girls accepted a lift from a stranger, who agreed to drive the girls to another friend’s house in Kelso.
But they never made it there.
Driving along Hereford Street, the man stopped the car, and a struggle ensued.
Vanessa made it out of the car and ran for help. As she ran she heard Jessica’s screams.
No one has seen the 15 year old since.
This week is Missing Persons Week, when the community is again urged to work with police to try and find out what happened to Jessica.
Thirteen years after she was taken, officers re-investigating her disappearance have not given up hope of finding her abductor.
A second strike force, established in October 2007, has spent the last three years reviewing and reinvestigating the case.
Homicide Detective Inspector Peter Smith heads the case and said he remains optimistic about finding out what happened to Jessica.
In the last three years homicide officers have visited the city, re-examined the crime scene and re-interviewed key witness Vanessa Conlon.
Detective Inspector Smith said officers would again be in Bathurst in the next fortnight following up leads.
“The case is still being investigated, and we continue to proceed with the aim of criminal charges being laid.
“We are still holding out that we will find him [the man who abducted Jessica],” he said.
As Missing Persons Week draws to a close on Sunday, Police Minister Michael Daley said the focus of this year’s campaign was on the misconception people must wait 24 hours before contacting police in relation to a missing person.
“The first 24 to 48 hours in a missing person’s case is critical for both the investigation and the well-being of the person. So the message to the community is simple – don’t wait to call,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Anyone with information on missing teenager Jessica Small should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
