FORENSIC examination of DNA samples extracted from a car linked to the abduction of former Muswellbrook woman Janine Vaughan is still underway, with results not expected to be known to police "for some time."
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The 31-year-old, who grew up in town and went to school at Scone, was last seen getting into a small red vehicle in Keppel Street, Bathurst, in the early hours of December 7, 2001, after a night out with friends.
She was walking just metres in front of her groups of friends when the car did a U-turn and pulled up along side her. She got in the car, and has not been seen since.
In March this year, police announced a one million dollar reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Ms Vaughan's death.
At the same time the reward was announced, homicide police revealed in the course of the initial investigation, detectives had seized a smell red vehicle, from which very weak DNA samples had been recovered.
Those DNA samples are still being forensically re-examined.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, said last week that weak DNA samples, recovered during the initial investigation into Janine's disappearance "were still being tested, and the results are pending."
However due to the complex nature of the testing, it is expected the results will take some time to obtain.
Supt Cook said back in March forensic experts are now able to delve deeper into partial DNA, familiar DNA and blood lines and investigators are hopeful that what they find, belongs to Janine.
He said the car which the DNA was taken from "was crucial to the investigation."
"Ten minutes before Janine got into the car, there was a car of similar description, 750 metres to one kilometer away, seen stalking another woman. We are confident it's the same car, and by extension the same driver."
He said police were "very focused on that car" and as such have gone back to the time of Janine's disappearance, and are trying to exhaust everything they can out of that.
"If we get Janine's DNA in the car, if it matches it, that's a significant break through."
He said police know who the owner of the car was and will be talking to him again.
As police wait for the results of the new testing, they reminded the community the of the one million dollar reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of Janine's killer.
Supt Cook said police investigating Janine's murder believe a local living in Bathurst at the time was involved.
Anyone with information relating to the murder is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Calls can be made anonymously.