NEW CHILLING DETAILS REVEALED… – WA Police say they are investigating fresh information after announcing a $1 million reward in the long-running deaths of Erica Coyne and Lloyd Mitchell.
Homicide detectives are investigating “multiple” new reports after a $1 million reward was announced for any information that helps solve a suspected double murder in the Great Southern.
The West Australian can reveal the investigative team tasked with solving the violent deaths of Spencer Park grandmother Erica Coyne and her son Lloyd Mitchell are assessing new information more than a week after the giant reward was announced.
The WA Government last month put up the reward to help close the investigation into the unsolved suspected murders of the 69-year-old mother-of-four and her 50-year-old son in February.
A WA Police spokeswoman said Crime Stoppers had received “multiple new reports”.
“Following the recent appeal for information and announcement of the $1m reward in relation to the double homicide investigation in Spencer Park, WA Police has received multiple new reports to Crime Stoppers,” a WA Police spokeswoman said.
“Part of the role of Major Crime investigators is to follow up and determine if any new information has been received that might open avenues for further investigation.
“The investigation team is assessing all information received and investigating any new leads that present. Inquiries remain ongoing.”
WA Police did not disclose the exact number of reports that had been made to Crime Stoppers.
The investigation has been ongoing since police officers were called to Ms Coyne’s Burville Street unit in Spencer Park about 3.10pm on Sunday, February 8.
Ms Coyne was found dead inside following a suspected assault.
A critically injured Mr Mitchell was found inside the same unit before he was airlifted to Perth and placed in an induced coma.
He died in hospital weeks later from similar assault injuries to his mother.
Homicide squad detective Sen. Sgt Steve Cleal, when announcing the reward, said the unsolved case was “without a doubt the toughest” he has faced.
“We’re chasing every single lead down,” he said. “We’ve spoken to over 200 witnesses. We’ve got over 700 exhibits seized from around the State, from the house, the crime scene. We’ve reviewed months and months of CCTV.
A poster announcing the $1m reward.
He said said a number of potential weapons were being forensically examined and a thorough search of Mokare Park, an area of dense bushland located near their shared Spencer Park home, had been conducted using metal detectors and homicide resources.
In CCTV captured two days before police called, Ms Coyne was seen at Spencer Park IGA on Hardie Road and walking along Mokare Road, while Mr Mitchell was seen riding his bike through the carpark of the same shopping centre.
Mary Eades — the daughter of Ms Coyne and brother of Mr Mitchell — previously urged anyone with information to come forward.
“(Mum) had the kindest heart, the biggest heart; she’d give you the shirt off her back, and she loved her kids and her grandkids,” she said.
“She had a big extended family and she was respected in the community because she showed respect back to her elders. And Lloyd was the same, showed a lot of respect for his community, his people.
“Lloyd was like a gentle giant I guess. He never spoke cheeky, and was very quiet but always stood up for what he believed in.”
Police have thanked the community for their support after receiving new reports, but reiterated that investigators were still seeking information about the case — the first unsolved homicide case since 2016.
Information can be provided to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or online here.
Any report can be made anonymously.
