A new theory is emerging about a 16-year-old cold case after a couple was found beaten to death in their home
New theories have emerged about the cold case murder of a mother of three with no known enemies, in hopes of breaking the silence surrounding the murder.
Stacey McMaugh, 41, and her long-term partner Robert Pashkuss, 50, were found beaten to death in their NSW home in January 2008.
A coroner found in 2016 that Mr Pashkuss was beaten from behind in the kitchen with a heavy, blunt instrument before the killer or killers searched the house and found Ms McMaugh in the bedroom where she was also attacked.
Ms McMaugh, who worked in a wine company’s call centre, had no known enemies and many close friendships, the coroner found.
However, her partner earned his income from selling drugs.
Stacey McMaugh (pictured right), 41, and her long-term partner Robert Pashkuss (left), 50, were found beaten to death in their NSW home in January 2008.
Police announced Wednesday that they now believe Mr. Pashkuss was trying to withdraw from that business when he was killed.
Further information revealed that on the afternoon of January 5, before he died, Mr Pashkuss was seen outside his home at Caves Beach in the Lake Macquarie region with a number of other people, including a man wearing a black leather vest.
“Police have information suggesting their deaths are linked to organized crime networks, including outlaw motorcycle gangs operating in both NSW and Queensland,” Chief Inspector Tracey Chapman, the local crime commander, told reporters on Wednesday.
Despite these leads, the coronial findings and a $250,000 reward for information, detectives have so far failed to bring charges.
DNA evidence or other forensic evidence such as fingerprints and bloodstains, and the murder weapon were not found at the crime scene or as a result of other searches.
“That reward remains available,” Supt Chapman said. “It’s never too late to come forward. No piece of information is too small. No piece of information is unimportant.
“What you may think is unimportant could be the final piece of the puzzle that police need to move our investigation forward.”
On the afternoon of January 5, before he died, Mr Pashkuss was seen outside his home in Caves Beach with a number of other people, including a man wearing a black leather vest. Caves Beach is pictured
A representative of the family named Georgia said it is time for those who know to come forward about who killed the “warm, friendly, caring and family-oriented” couple.
“We know someone knows what happened to Robert and Stacey that day,” Georgia told reporters.
“It’s been sixteen long years without answers for us and it’s time for you to step forward.
“If you know anything about what happened to Robert and Stacey, you need to report it to the police.”