Australia Australia - Anna Banitskas,15, Lalor, Vic, 27 Aug 1974

What happened to Anna?

28 August 2014

Forty years after she went missing, police are again appealing for information regarding the disappearance of Annastaes (Anna) Banitskas.

Anna Banitskas was 15-years-old the last time her family saw her in 1974.

“It’s the not knowing that’s the worst.” Anna’s sister Loretta Pantou said.

“There are so many options for what could have happened. Did she meet with foul play? Did she choose to leave? Questions like that keep you up at night. Our family has no closure.”

At around 7.00am on Tuesday 27 August 1974, Anna left her home to catch a bus from nearby Kingsway Drive, Lalor to work. She never arrived.

“We know it’s been a long time, but we still believe there is someone out there with information relating to Anna’s case.” Detective Senior Constable Craig Hall said.

“Any piece of information, big or small, could help us bring closure to Anna’s family.

“We encourage anyone who may have something to say to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“Hopefully with the help of the public, we’ll be able to give some long overdue piece of mind to the Banitskas family.”

Anna was last seen wearing grey pants, a white jumper and brown shoes on the day of her disappearance.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au



http://vicpolicenews.com.au/news/4370-what-happened-to-anna.html

Anna Banitskas disappeared 40 years ago at the age of 15, but her family still has her Melbourne home ready for her return.

Her elderly parents moved into a nursing home last year but told their three remaining children to keep their Lalor house in case Anna comes back.

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Anna, or Annastaes, took some family photographs and left home to board the Kingsway Drive bus to work at Rolex at 7am on August 27, 1974.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/20...vic-girl-missing-40-years#buJC0MVdXrwGyoxl.99

'It’s the not knowing that’s the worst.' Loretta Pentou told Daily Mail Australia, 'We just don't know what happened. We don't have closure, we think about her every day.'

'It was a normal rainy day, my brother Chris offered her a lift to work that morning but she said she wanted to get the bus, she got on that bus but a workmate of hers told us that she got off a few stops early to get some stockings.'

She never arrived at work and she was never seen again.

Anna caught a bus from nearby Kingsway Drive, Lalor, on Tuesday August 27th 1974 onr way to her job at Rolex, a factory she worked at near Thomastown in Victoria.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ng-fallen-pregnant-just-15.html#ixzz3Bvm9ra8E

Circumstances
Anna was 15 years old at the time she disappeared. Anna was last seen when she left her home address for work. She did not attend her workplace and it was found she had taken family photographs from a photo album. Anna’s family are eager to speak with her but would abide by her wishes if she doesn’t want contact with them.

http://www.missingpersons.gov.au/mi...s/profiles/b/a/banitskas annastaes anna - vic


The family have also been subjected to many rumors about Anna's disappearance including that she was pregnant and ran away because she was ashamed, and one that she'd met a man and run off with him.

'It was quite weird, we don't have much of her left. She took all of our photo albums with her that day, she said she wanted to show people at work,' said Ms Pantou.

'It's weird that she took them,' she said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ng-fallen-pregnant-just-15.html#ixzz3Bvn8hloY

Bumping for Anna as we pass the 45th anniversary of her disappearance...

As she took family photos, I would say she left voluntarily...initially. What she may have encountered afterwards is another story.

Bumping for Anna - 2024 will be 50 years.