FRIENDS of murdered Buninyong woman Belinda Williams are being asked to recollect past conversations with her in a bid to track down her killer.
A Ballarat private investigator, known as John for security reasons, has been hired by Ms Williams' mother Shirley Macey to hunt for clues in solving the four-year-old case.
Ms Williams' body was discovered on the Mt Buninyong Access Road by bushwalkers and despite an intense police investigation, her killer has never been found.
John said he hopes to tackle the investigation by collating evidence not covered by past police investigations.
"I have the time and interest to pursue this case for some time to come," he said.
"I hope those who knew Belinda will be able to think back to conversations they had with her to uncover some long term memory thoughts that may be relevant today.
"People often forget the little things that are embedded in their thoughts and it can sometimes take years for them to resurface out of the blue.
"These pieces of conversation may now hold a vital clue to the whole case."
John said he would be interested to hear about any major changes within Ms Williams lifetime including relationship changes, problems and arguments.
Ms Macey said the use of a private investigator was a last ditch attempt to throw some light on the baffling case.
"It's just an added help and I would encourage anyone who might know something, even the smallest detail, to contact John," she said.
Ms Williams was last seen alive on the evening of Friday, June 25, 1999, when she had been entertaining friends.
At 9.30pm her friends left and Ms Williams and her daughter Mietta, then six, went to bed.
Mietta awoke to find her mother missing.
Police last month renewed their call for information relating to the Williams murder but to no avail.
If anyone who knew Ms Williams has any relevant information from past conversations, they can contact John on 0412 485 154 or write to him at PO Box 46, North Ballarat, 3350.