Latest news with #MelissaTrussell
9 News
6 days ago
- 9 News
Breakthrough in search for daughter who went missing 25 years ago
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Major crime detectives have issued a stern warning to anyone who knows the truth about what happened to an Adelaide teenager and her mother 25 years ago. South Australian detectives today made a renewed appeal for information about the disappearance of Melissa Trussell and her mother, Rosemary Brown. The investigation, focused on Garden Island, took an unexpected turn with the discovery of a submerged vehicle. The submerged vehicle, discovered during the search, is now a focal point of the investigation. (Nine) "It's not something that had been previously located. It's brand new to us," Detective Darren Fielke said. The submerged vehicle, discovered during the search, is now a focal point of the investigation. "We haven't quite finished searching the northern side of Garden Island, which is what they intended to do at the start … so finding this vehicle has changed our focus a little bit," Fielke added. Police have long suspected that Melissa, aged 15 at the time of her disappearance in May 2000, was murdered. Her 33-year-old mother was found dead in mangroves near Garden Island, not long after their disappearance. Melissa Trussell was 15 when she is believed to have been murdered. (Nine) Melissa's body has never been found. While a breakthrough, the car that has now been found is heavily silted and posing challenges for investigators. "It's been down there a long time, so it's not structurally very sound," Fielke said. "They'd have to clear all the silt out of that to determine whether there's any evidence in there." While the water search was under way, detectives have been working in the background to interview witnesses and retest old DNA evidence. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward. "Those people that are involved in that incident, or people who know people who are involved in that incident, should think really hard about that," Fielke said. "And now would be a very opportune time to come forward." This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress . 9ExPress Adelaide South Australia missing persons CONTACT US Auto news: Why Australians are still driving around without insurance.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Police call off search for Julian Story's remains, but divers continue Melissa Trussell investigation
SA Police has provided an update on separate searches for the remains of two suspected murder victims believed to have been killed decades apart. Warning: This story contains content some readers may find distressing. Searches around the Port Lincoln area for the missing remains of 39-year-old Julian Story, whose dismembered body was found on June 19, have been called off — a move that will allow his family to make preparations for his funeral. In a separate matter, divers have returned to waters off Garden Island in Adelaide's north-west to conduct further investigations in relation to the cold case disappearance of teenager Melissa Trussell and a submerged vehicle that could be linked to her suspected murder. SA Police's Major Crime Investigation Branch today issued a public update on the state of both cases. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said police had "exhausted all the areas of interest" that had been identified in relation to the missing remains of Mr Story. He said police had kept in close contact with Mr Story's family, who had been "completely understanding" about the decision to end the search. "They are also very keen to lay Julian to rest and have his funeral so they can start to move on. If we ultimately provide or locate remains down the track they're aware of how that might reinvigorate their grief. "We will, however, go back and search if we receive specific information about where Julian's remains might be — but in terms of general searching in Port Lincoln, that has now stopped." Mr Story's 34-year-old partner — former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser — has been charged with his murder, and appeared in court last month. Superintendent Fielke said it remained unclear when police would be able to interview her. "We're not in a position yet to be able to talk to Tamika. She's currently detained in James Nash House and we don't have the opportunity at this point in time to interview her," he said. Police on Wednesday told the ABC that they had found an Elvis T-shirt, a drink bottle and a wristband in scrubland. Superintendent Fielke said those items were potentially linked to the case and had been seized, including for potential DNA testing, to determine whether there was a connection to Mr Story's alleged murder. "It was just a very unusual thing to find in that location. What we do know is that both Tamika and Julian were Elvis fans, which kind of sparked our interest a little bit more given what was on the T-shirt," he said. "That's why all those items have been seized for further testing." Meanwhile, police have continued to conduct underwater searches for the remains of 15-year-old Melissa Trussell, who is believed to have been killed in a suspected double murder in Adelaide's north 25 years ago. Melissa and her 33-year-old mother Rosemary Brown were last seen in Blair Athol about 2:30am on Saturday, May 13, 2000. Ms Brown's body was found weeks later in mangroves at Garden Island in Adelaide's north-west, but Melissa's body has never been found and police believe she was also murdered. "We're conducting a very active investigation in relation to Melissa's disappearance and Rosemary's murder," Superintendent Fielke said. Last week, police launched a new search for the body of the 15-year-old in a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves. Police divers returned to Garden Island today. A submerged vehicle found towards the southern end of the island has been described as being "of interest to the investigation" at this point in time. But Superintendent Fielke said further work, including potentially lifting it to the surface, would have to be conducted to determine whether it was connected to the case. "Divers will be back there periodically for the next few weeks," he said. "Trying to ascertain exactly what that vehicle is will have its challenges. The vehicle has been described as being "not structurally very sound" and "submerged in quite a deep volume of water". "We're trying to establish make, year, model of that vehicle," he said. Melissa's father Barry Trussell and her sister Kayla this month spoke of their need to secure justice for the 15-year-old, as well as answers about how she disappeared. "Any little bit of information you've got can help, no matter how small — it can be what breaks the case," he said. Earlier this year, SA Police released a new image of Melissa in a bid to prompt public interest in the unsolved crime. According to Crime Stoppers SA, Rosemary was evicted from the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park on May 3, 2000 and moved around in the days before her disappearance. Her handbag was found in Stirling Street at Northfield at the time of her disappearance, but it was not handed into police until May 23 after a public appeal about the missing mother and daughter. Ms Brown's body was discovered by two siblings, Sarah and James Fidock, who had gone to Garden Island to fish with their father. The sister and brother recently spoke out about their wish for grieving relatives. "There's a family that don't know where she is and who need her home," Sarah said. "We do hope that they find the missing piece of this, and I hope they do get closure."
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Discovered vehicle could help solve 25-year-old cold case
Police divers scouring a river bed have found a vehicle that could be linked to the suspected murder of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 25 years ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their home in the northern Adelaide suburb of Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. They had a breakthrough when locating a vehicle that could be linked to the case. A section of the front grille was retrieved which could help with identification of the vehicle. Officers are investigating whether the vehicle is connected to the murder of the mother and the suspected killing of the teenager. Attempts might be made to recover the vehicle for further examination with the search to continue for another day, police said. Divers scoured a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. 'This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations,' Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. Det Fielke did not know why the area near Garden Island was not searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigation. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has been charged, or any motive revealed. Det Fielke hopes someone would come forward and explain what happened to the pair. 'Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it,' he said. 'We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough.' 'A parent shouldn't outlive their child ... and for a long time Melissa's disappearance has messed me up,' he said. 'I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case.' A reward of $1million is available to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder.
The Australian
18-07-2025
- The Australian
Police announce renewed search for Melissa Trussell, 25 years after disappearance
A renewed search has been launched for the remains of Melissa Trussell, who was last seen with her mother in South Australia more than 25 years ago. Rosemary Brown, 33, and her 15-year-old daughter Melissa Trussell, who is also known as Melissa Brown, were last seen leaving their house in Blair Athol in northern Adelaide on May 13, 2000. Melissa Trussell went missing more than 25 years ago. Picture: SA Police Police believe the teenager was murdered, but are yet to find her remains. Picture: Supplied / SAPOL Rosemary's handbag was found later that day in Stirling St in Northfield, but it wasn't handed into police until 10 days later when an appeal to find the missing pair was made public. Her body was found in the mangroves of Garden Island in the city's northwest on July 2, 2000. However her daughter Melissa was never found, with police suspecting she had been killed. More than 25 years later, South Australia Police have begun a renewed search for the missing teenager, with police combing a previously unsearched area of Garden Island. 'This search demonstrates that we will not give up looking for answers,' Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said. 'We will continue to investigate this matter and will not stop until we can provide closure and hopefully justice for the loved ones of both Rosemary Brown and Melissa Trussell.' No one has ever been charged in relation to their disappearances or deaths. In May, Acting Detective Superintendent Andrew Macrae said despite the passage of time, police remained dedicated to uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable. 'We encourage anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward,' he said. 'Your assistance could be crucial in helping us piece together the events surrounding this tragic incident.' A renewed search has been called, with police identifying an area of Garden Island that was previously unsearched. Picture: SA Police Speaking to the ABC, Melissa's father Barry Trussell said he had many unanswered questions about his daughter's disappearance. 'The what ifs, you know - what sort of mother would she have been? What sort of life would she have led?' he said. 'All these things are taken away from her and extra enjoyment we could've got out of life, having her involved in our life.' The missing girl's sister, Kayla, said her family had experienced 'decades of pain' and urged anyone with information to come forward. 'It's all that we can really ask for,' she said. The SA government and SA Police are offering a reward of up to $1m to anyone who provides information that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of the teenager. Additionally, rewards of up to $250,000 are available for anyone who provides information that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of Rosemary Brown. Read related topics: Adelaide
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Fresh search launched for teen missing for decades
Police divers are scouring a river bed in the hopes of uncovering the remains of a 15-year-old girl believed to have been murdered more than two decades ago. Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000. Rosemary's body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa's body was never found. Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hopes of uncovering Melissa's remains to provide her family with closure. Divers are scouring a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island's northern side. "This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters. "We are hopeful that we will find Melissa's remains today, but we are not sure that we will." Det Fielke did not know why the particular area near Garden Island had never been searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigations. A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads. Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has ever been charged, nor has any motive been revealed. Det Fielke was still hopeful someone would come forward and explain what really happened to the pair. "Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," he said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough." Melissa's father Barry Trussell earlier this month issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary's body being found. "A parent shouldn't outlive their child … and for a long time (Melissa's disappearance) has messed me up," he said. "I'm hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case." A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa's murder or the recovery of her remains. Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary's murder.
