Her body was found two weeks later, hidden in dense scrub almost 50km away.
Hundreds of local men have been spoken to since the 15-year-old disappeared while walking her dog on New Year's Eve 1998, including her ex-Royal Navy sailor father Sid and older brother John, who were once considered main suspects.
Jill and Sid Bentley with the family dog Abby. Their daughter Kirsty was murdered while out walking the dog on New Year's Eve 1998. Photo / NZH
To date, no one has been arrested for her murder and police recently announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her killer - or killers.
Senior crime and justice journalist Anna Leask looks back at the case in the latest episode of Herald podcast A Moment In Crime.
A Moment In Crime is written and hosted by Leask - who has been covering crime and justice for NZME since 2005.
Leask has also reported on most of the major incidents and events in New Zealand during that period including the Christchurch quakes, Pike River mine disaster, March 15 terror attack and the White Island eruption.
"Each month I'll take you inside some of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders and behind the scenes of high-profile trials and events to show you what's really happening in your backyard," she said.
"Heroes and villains battle for justice to be done, and it seems no matter how horrifying the story, we always want to know more."
