Police have renewed an appeal to find a man who they have not been able to locate for more than 50 years after being charged with breaking into a Melbourne home and raping a woman.
The woman, who was 30 at the time, told police she was asleep in her Fitzroy home when she was awoken by a stranger and assaulted in the early hours of the morning on July 22,1974.
Police arrested George Karakis nine days later.
He was charged with rape, burglary and indecent assault and released on bail with a $1,000 surety.
Police say he failed to appear in the Fitzroy Magistrates’ Court the following October.
A digitally rendered image of what Mr Karakis could look like at the age of 78. (Supplied: Victoria Police)
There was no sign of Mr Karakis until 1990 when police officers in New South Wales believed they had found him in Sydney’s east, but he allegedly disappeared before they could execute a warrant to arrest him.
A public appeal for information in 2015 failed to locate Mr Karakis.
Victoria Police has today reissued a photo taken of Mr Karakis upon his arrest in 1974 as well as a digitally generated image of what he could look like at the age of 78 today.
Detective Senior Constable Ruby Roberts said the alleged victim was now aged in her eighties.
“This crime changed her life forever and 50 years is a long time to live without the justice we would so dearly like to give her.”
At the time of his arrest, Mr Karakis was a 27-year-old living in Gore Street, Fitzroy with his wife, sister and brother-in-law.
Police said the Türkiye-born man required a Greek translator during his 1974 interview.
He has been described as being about 162cm tall with brown eyes and a two centimetre scar over his left eyebrow.
“There will absolutely be people out there who … may even know where he is now residing,” Senior Constable Roberts said.
“Given the length of time, there is also the possibility he has passed away.
“We just want to find answers so we can close this chapter in our victim’s life.”
Anyone with information about Mr Karakis or his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.