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ABC News
ABC News
National

Investigation into houseboat death of Angela Berecz boosted by Crime Stoppers, police say

South Australian police say tips from the public have helped them progress an investigation into the death of a woman on her houseboat along the Murray River in 2020.

Angela Berecz was found unresponsive in her recliner on the boat at Blanchetown by her partner and carer, who administered CPR but was unable to revive her.

Investigators declared the 53-year-old's death a major crime in January after initially treating it as not suspicious.

Since then Crime Stoppers SA has received 19 contacts from the public, including close acquaintances of Ms Berecz who saw her in her final weeks.

Major Crime Investigation Branch Detective Sergeant Paul Ward said the information gave police a clear insight into Ms Berecz's lifestyle and movements.

"Some of the calls were able to assist the investigation team with crucial information that may not have been found otherwise," he said.

"They've identified for us some lines of enquiry that we've pursued and the investigation into some of those are still ongoing.

"With each day that goes by we get closer, we get answers to questions we have."

Murder suspected

Crime Stoppers SA chief executive Nigel Smart said tips from the public had helped to progress the investigation.

"Major Crime were investigating that particular incident and announced that she had been murdered," he said.

"Then Crime Stoppers was put in place to allow people to report anonymously.

"Over that point in time we've had 19 contacts received and police now have a suspect they're exploring, and [the possibility] that there may have been more than one individual involved as well."

Crime Stoppers SA has received 153 contacts regarding murder investigations in South Australia this year, including cold case homicides.

"Sometimes the smallest piece of information or intelligence may crack a case," Mr Smart said.

"It could be a vehicle description, it could be a name, it could be some unusual behaviour and it may actually solve the case."

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