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ABC News
a day 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."
News24
18-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
KZN police warn public of fake accounts impersonating Mkhwanazi
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has no social media accounts, and all profiles using his name or image on platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook are fake. Police may pursue legal action against those impersonating the provincial commissioner to promote personal or political agendas. The public is urged not to use the commissioner's image during political marches, as it may send unintended messages and politicise police leadership. Police in KwaZulu-Natal have sounded the alarm over a growing number of fake social media accounts that are impersonating the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The accounts, active on platforms including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook, are using the commissioner's name and photographs without authorisation, misleading the public into believing that the content is being shared by the senior police official himself. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, has confirmed that the provincial commissioner does not operate any social media accounts and warned that the fake profiles are deceptive and potentially harmful. 'Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi does not have a social media account, and declares that all social media accounts bearing his names and photographs are fake, and that they are being used to deceive the public into believing that it is the Provincial Commissioner communicating via such platforms,' said Netshiunda. Netshiunda said the police are contemplating taking legal steps against those who impersonate the provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal to advance their personal agendas. He further informed the public that those profiles are fake and that neither the police in KwaZulu-Natal nor Mkhwanazi have endorsed such fake accounts. 'The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal would also like to plead with members of the public to refrain from using his photographs during various politically-aligned marches, especially those against the State President,' he said. He said although Mkhwanazi appreciates the support that people have shown towards the work of the police in KwaZulu-Natal, the use of his photographs and names on posters and banners during marches has the potential of sending unintended messages to government, government officials and the international community. Netshiunda said the provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal was against crime and criminals, not leaders in government. Since the beginning of the week, there have been protests across the country in support of Mkhwanazi, who made explosive allegations against police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy police commissioner for crime detection General Shadrack Sibiya, whom he accused of being in cahoots with criminals. Mchunu and Sibiya have since been placed on 'leave of absence'.
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
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Decades of pain': 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. 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.' 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.
ABC News
18-07-2025
- ABC News
Fresh search underway for missing person Melissa Trussell in 25-year Adelaide cold case
South Australian police divers have launched a new search for the body of 15-year-old Adelaide girl Melissa Trussell, who went missing in 2000 in a suspected double murder. Melissa and her 33-year-old mother, Rosemary Brown, were last seen in Blair Athol, in Adelaide's north, at about 2:30am on Saturday, May 13, 2000. Ms Brown's body was found seven weeks later in mangroves at Garden Island in Adelaide's northwest on July 2, but Melissa's body has never been found. Today, police divers are hoping to find Melissa's remains in a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the northern side of Garden Island. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said the "extensive and thorough" search may take several days. "The reason we are here today is purely as a result of the work that the major crime detectives have done in the cold case team to identify areas that haven't been searched prior to today," he said. Asked why the area was not searched before, Superintendent Fielke said he did not know. "It is just one of those areas that we have identified during our cold case review that just wasn't done," he said. "So I can't speak to why it wasn't done 25 years ago.' Police believe the teenager and her mother were murdered but detectives have no motive and no one has ever been charged for any offence relating to their disappearance. According to SA Police, a number of people have been identified as persons of interests over the past 25 years. "25 years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people's allegiances change overtime, people forget about it, some people don't forget about it," Superintendent Fielke said. "We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough. "So, in some ways, the passage of time is helpful to us because of those allegiances that break down, it might just be time for someone to come forward and tell us what really happened." Earlier this month, Melissa's father, Barry Trussell, and her sister, Kayla Trussell, joined renewed calls from police for information on the case. The appeal marked 25 years since Rosemary's body was discovered. Since that appeal, police have received a number of calls which investigators are now working through. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said the information has been useful. "We are always looking for information no matter how minute that information might be, how insignificant someone might think that information might be," he said. "It might just be the piece to the puzzle we are looking for in terms of trying to solve this long-term investigation." SA Police also released a new image this year of Melissa in an attempt to spark public interest in the cold case. According to Crime Stoppers SA, Rosemary was evicted from the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park on May 3, and moved around in the days before her disappearance. A reward of up to $1,000,000 has been on offer for information and assistance that leads to the conviction of those responsible for the suspected murder of Melissa, while a reward of up to $200,000 has been on offer for the same in Rosemary's case. Those with information are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
