4 murders, 1 missing person in $50K reward program

Four Halifax-area homicides and a 17-year-old missing-person mystery are the first unsolved cases in Nova Scotia's new reward program.

The Department of Justice is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to a conviction in the five high-profile cases:

• Paula Gallant (homicide)
• Jonathan Reader (homicide)
• Tyrone Oliver (homicide)
• Jason MacCullough (homicide)
• Kimberly McAndrew (missing person)

Paula Gallant, 36,was found dead in the trunk of her car on Dec. 28, 2005. The car was parked at the Beechville Lakeside Timberlea elementary school whereshetaught Grade 3.

Gallant had left her housethe previous dayto go shopping. Her family reported her missing around 10 p.m. when she hadn't returned. About two hours later, a relative spotted her car in the school parking lot and called police.

Jonathan Reader, 19,was found unconscious at the intersection of Dunbrack Street and Radcliffe Drive inHalifax early onAug. 7, 2005. Hehad suffered head trauma and later died in hospital.

Reader had been dancing with friends at the Pacificobar earlier on Aug. 6.He was seen on the bar's security camera footage leaving with a woman at around 2 a.m.

Tyrone Oliver, 20, was shot several times and found in a playground near the corner of Creighton and Gerrish streets in HalifaxonJuly 20, 2000. He died in hospital.

Police say the shooting was related totwo stabbings and an assault that happened in the area around the same time. They have a suspect in mind, but no one has been arrested.

The body of Jason MacCullough, 19,was found on a paved path on Pinecrest Drive in Dartmouth in Aug. 28,1999. He had been shot in the head. Police say he wasthe victim of a random act of violence.

Kimberly McAndrew was 19 when she vanished onAug. 12, 1989. The cashier left work at the Canadian Tire on Quinpool Road in Halifax after 4 p.m., and was last seen at a flower shop in Penhorn Mall in Dartmouth.

Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call 1-888-710-9090.

Justice officials sayinformantswho want the reward will have to give their names and contact information and couldbecalled to testify in court.