Vic Police have announced a reward of $1 million following the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Karmein Chan back in 1991.

The announcement comes on the 25th anniversary of the Melbourne schoolgirl’s abduction from her Templestowe home on April 13, 1991.

Karmein and her two younger sisters were confronted by a man in a balaclava while their parents had gone to work at a Chinese restaurant. The man forced Karmein’s sisters into a wardrobe before fleeing with her.

A year later, Karmein’s body was discovered at Edgar’s Creek in Thomastown and the autopsy showed she was shot.

The man dubbed ‘Mr Cruel’ is believed to have been responsible for at least four child kidnappings and sexual assaults in Melbourne in the late 1980s and early ’90s.

Two other girls kidnapped by Mr Cruel were released.

Despite an extensive investigation led by Crime Command detectives over the past 25 years, no one has been identified as Karmein’s murderer.

Police have searched around 30, 000 homes and interviewed 27, 000 people in relation to this case over the years.

In a statement, Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said he believed someone held the key to solving the murder.

“This unsolved murder has been extremely devastating to the Chan family,” AC Fontana said.

“We are hoping that today’s $1 million announcement will encourage someone out there with crucial information or direct knowledge of this murder to come forward.

– with Vic Police