The hunt for Vic child killer 'Mr Cruel'

THE DECADES-LONG HUNT FOR THE MAN DUBBED 'MR CRUEL'

MURDERED KARMEIN CHAN, 13

* Kidnapped from her Templestowe home on April 13, 1991

* Balaclava-clad man confronted Karmein and her two sisters while their parents worked at a Chinese restaurant in Eltham

* Sisters were forced into a wardrobe

* Karmein's body was found at Edgars Creek in Thomastown on April 9, 1992

* Died from gunshot wounds to the head

MR CRUEL'S OTHER CRIMES

* Police believe he is responsible for at least four child kidnappings and sexual assaults from 1987 to 1991

* Possibly attacked a dozen children

* Suspected of a dozen other attacks on adults

* Abducted Nicola Lynas, 13, in Canterbury, July 3, 1990; released July 6, 1990

* Abducted Sharon Wills, 10, in Ringwood, December 27, 1988; released December 28, 1988

* 11-year-old girl assaulted in her Lower Plenty home, August 22, 1987

THE POLICE INVESTIGATION

* Spectrum task force investigated more than 10,500 pieces of information

* Another 1000 by later Apollo task force

* Searched 30,000 homes

* Interviewed 27,000 people

* Spectrum wound up in 1994; cost $3.8 million

* Had 32 "Sierra files" on potential suspects who could not be eliminated

* A couple of those of real interest to police

* Apollo established in April 2010 after new suspects emerged; wound up in mid-2013

REWARD FOR INFORMATION

* $1 million reward over Karmein's murder

* $100,000 rewards over each of Sharon and Nicola abductions