RCMP are seeking new information in hopes of solving the murder of two German tourists near Chetwynd 30 years ago.

Police said Tuesday that in October 1983, the bodies of 27-year-old Bernd Goericke and his 22-year-old fiancé, Andrea Scherps, were found on an isolated road 32 kilometres south of Chetwynd. Both had been shot and their property taken.

The two were last seen hitchhiking westbound near Dawson Creek toward Chetwynd and had hiking and camping gear, none of which was recovered.

Police said a male suspect was driving a 1960s Chevrolet pickup, and had purchased gas on the 4th and 5th of October 1983 at Prince George, Quesnel, McLeese Lake, Lac La Hache and 100 Mile House.

The suspect was described as Caucasian, about 40 years old, 5 feet, nine inches tall, 190 pounds, with straight collar-length brown hair and a medium-to-dark complexion.

He walked with slumped shoulders and wore a long-sleeved green shirt, possibly the same colour pants or jeans, a dark coloured hunter-style cap with fold-up ear flaps and a vest.

Property belonging to Goericke included German passport No. D3900872, German drivers licence No. 146777, international drivers licence No. 2151383, a “LOWE” backpack, green in colour with black bottom with a 10-cm hole and an “Edelweiss” flower patch, a blue nylon mummy-type sleeping bag, a green army-type jacket with zipper, daily diary written in German, white T-shirt with printing “Snowden mouldings for better penetration, the current axe,” and an igloo-type green coloured tent with exterior frame.

Property belonging to Scherps included German passport No. S4114020, I.D. card No. 04367598, German drivers licence No. 66177, International drivers licence No. 3783, a blue “LOWE” back-pack, a blue nylon mummy type sleeping bag, a Canon AEl camera with lens serial number 1330139, a ladies brown leather purse, a ladies digital watch, and red canvas shoes, brown leather shoes, hiking boots, roman sandals, blue jeans, red short sleeved dress with brass rivets, necklace and oval broach engraved with leaves, a black and purple cotton skirt with silver sparkles, and a white and green tank top.

“Chetwynd RCMP and the North District Major Crime Unit continue to investigate the murder of Bernd and Andrea,” Const. Lesley Smith, North District media relations officer, said in a statement. “The person responsible for their murder is still at large and police are making every effort to bring justice to this heinous crime.”

In 2001, the Crown stayed murder charges against a Newfoundland man twice convicted of killing the two German tourists.

Anyone with information is asked to call Chetwynd RCMP at 250-788-9221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

bmorton@vancouversun.com