Julie Cutler

[Belangalo]

Have um rd about putting this item in but what the hell found it at post.com.au the author is Romy Ranali i have no date for it , and it will have to be in Part series.

PART 1

The family of Julie Cutler once thought by police to be the first victim of the Claremont Serial Killer , say they finally feel able to erect a graveside plaqueaccepting her death.

It has been 20 years since 23-year-old's car was towed from the surf at Cottesloe beach two day's after she left a staff function at the Parmela Hilton Hotel around midnight on June 20 , 1998.

her family hope technology will be able to analise clues left in the car by the killer.

Rachel Cutler was 10 when Julie , her half , sister went missing.

She said police had told her father that they suspected Julie had been taken by the same person who abducted three women from the Claremont Hotel in the 1990's.

''Julie disappeared seven years before the first Claremont abduction ,'' Rachel said this week.

''The connection was mentioned by police , who said the case was being looked at in association with the Claremont Serial Killings.

''But the details of what was said during those conversations is not for us to say , it is up to the police.

The Cutler family will hold a memorial mass at Julie's former school Iona Presentation College , next month.

''We haven't had a mass for Julie before ,'' said Rachel. ''We were always hoping a body would turn up - but because it has been 20 years now , we have decided to accept that we won't have a body to bury.''

Rachel said the family hoped new evidence would lead to the perpetrator being caught.

''With advances in technology , we hope DNA can be obtained off cigarette filters that were found in Julie's car ,'' she said.

''They were from a type of cigarette we know Julie didn't smoke and it might prove to be the lead we need.''

''Maybe someonewho suspected something at the time will have the courage to come forward and contact Crimestoppers.''

A plaque for Julie will be erected at her mother Robyn's grave at Karrkatta cemetery.

Mrs Cutler died from Cancer when Julie and her sister Nicole were young girls.

Their father Roger remarried and had four more children - Rachel , Rebecca , Alexander and Jessica.

''But mum and dad talk about her often as does Nicole - they were around the same age and very close , and had grown up together. Nicole has four kids of her own.

''My father has been affected most by what happened.''

''I think fathers feel they are the protectors of their children , especially their daughters -and , as Julie was the first daughter, he was very fond of her.

''When things like this happen you feel quite powerless.''

Rachel said the family never believed Julie would be found alive.

''When she disappeared we feared the worst because it was completely out of character,'' Rachel said.

''She was consicentious person and wouldn't have put anyone through what my parents and family have gone through.

''We had only just moved to Kalgoorlie from Perth and Julie called dad and told him she was planning to come up for a month.''

''She had been saving uop to go travelling after graduating from WAIT (NOW Curtin University) where she majored in English literature , with a minor in theatre arts.''

[Belangalo]

Part 2

During the Claremont murder investigations , it was reported that Julie had attended classes at the University with a man police said was their prime suspect.

''We did hear that but didn't think much of it ,'' Rachael said. ''She went through classes with hundreds of people , so i don't know if thats relevant.

''Mum and dad didn't want to worry us about it at the beginning.

''They didn't tell us what had happened but a couple of day's later we saw a story on the news that said Julie's car had been dragged out of the surf.

''We asked mum and she said dad would tell us about it later. All he said was that she had gone missing and didn't know where she was. We were both old enough to surmise that she was dead.

''Because it was such a horrific thing to happen it made me aware , from a very young age , that bad things can happen to you.

''As a result , i think our parents were a lot more protective to the point of being overly cautious when we were growing up.

''When it came to Perth to go to University , i would call them and let them know if i was going out at night and i would call them when i got home.''

The Cutler family have never spoken to the families of the three Claremont victims - Sarah Spiers , Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

''It was hard for us and i felt sad for their families ,'' said Rachael.

''We didn't want to intrude on their grief and didn't contact them out of respect because we understood what a bhighly traumatic experience it is.''

Julie and Nicole attend Iona Presentation College when the family lived in Perth.

Julie was at Iona between 1975 and 1982 where she did her TAFE and i thought the school would be the most appropriate place to have the memorial service ,'' said Rachael.

''The school and the sisters have been very gracious towards us and we believe in the power of mass , so it will be a healing process for us.

''The plaque we are putting on the grave of Julie's mother means there will be a place where people can go and remember Julie.

''Over time the pain of grief isn't as strong and you learn to cope with it.

''The hardest times have been when we hear media reports of people going missing or a body being found , it brings back the emotions of 20 years ago.