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Daniel Morcombe's family finally able to bury him with dignity
CONFIRMATION that human remains found in Sunshine Coast bushland belonged to his son was like "waiting for a sledgehammer to hit you", says Bruce Morcombe says. Three bones found in boggy bushland at Beerwah have been confirmed as belonging to Daniel Morcombe, who was 13 when he went missing in 2003. In a press conference held today, Daniel's father, Bruce, said: "The reality has set in that Daniel is not missing - he was murdered. "It's a monumental step in the investigation process. We're quite traumatised but hoping it's the first step in the healing process and we can move forward and recover. "We are entering the very final chapter. We will bring Daniel home - it will take a little while." Mr Morcombe said he was hesitant to describe the family's feeling as "closure", saying it was more like relief. "We wrestle with finding the appropriate word and closure is one that me and Denise and the family have never been enormously comfortable with," he said. Daniel can now be buried with dignity after Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson phoned Bruce Morcombe with the news the family had both wanted and dreaded just after 8am (AEST). Seven years and nine months after Daniel vanished while waiting for a bus at Woombye on December 7, 2003, it was official: the 13-year-old schoolboy was dead. The family's long-time lawyer and friend Peter Boyce said the Morcombes had gathered, as they had done so many times before, to comfort each other. Mr Boyce said he had spoken to Bruce, who was "very low" after receiving the call from Mr Atkinson, who revealed DNA tests on three bones uncovered at the scene last Sunday had been matched to Daniel. "It was the call they had expected, but that did not make it any less difficult," he said. "From an investigation point of view, it's something that had to happen ... an achievement. From a personal viewpoint, it brought the stark reality that their son has been lying there (in Glass House Mountains bushland) for a very long time." The Morcombes were extremely resilient and would "get back up again", Mr Boyce said. "We're really proud, Denise and myself, that we're a tight-knit family. We'll just make sure we recover from this and move on," Mr Morcombe told the press today. They would now be able to focus on plans for Daniel's funeral and keep busy with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Mrs Morcombe told press "I think we'll just have the one (memorial) but we haven't decided yet." She said it was difficult to pass on the news to her other sons, Daniel's twin brother Bradley, 21, and Dean, 23. "Just watching the boys' faces was heartbreaking really," Mrs Morcombe said. They just stood there and just stared." Mr and Mrs Morcombe told The Courier-Mail on Thursday that the anniversary of their son's disappearance was being considered as a possible date for his funeral. Mr Morcombe said that Daniel deserved to be farewelled "with dignity". Mr Atkinson told media that testing at a South Australian facility had provided a DNA match late on Saturday. "This is an enormously significant result," Mr Atkinson said. "It's a very sad answer, but it's the answer." He read a statement from Mr Morcombe on behalf of the family. "Denise, Bruce, Dean and Bradley would like to thank the Queensland Police Service and the State of Emergency Service volunteers for their ongoing commitment to maintain the search for Daniel's remains," he read. "Today's news is extremely sad for us all and although we knew in our heart the search area was Daniel's final resting place, the scientific confirmation is still enormously difficult to comprehend. For seven years and nine months it is that expected shock we have all been waiting for." Deputy Commissioner Ross Barnett said the search at the Kings Rd crime scene would resume as soon as weather allowed. "We will search that area with absolute thoroughness and we will not leave that area until we are absolutely certain," a spokesman from Queensland Police told press. Mr Morcombe said the family found more comfort in visiting the public memorial for Daniel, rather than the site where his remains have been found. "It's a very eerie place, it's certainly not a place anyone would want to go and visit out of their natural accord," he said. Mrs Morcombe added: "It's more like hell." Brett Peter Cowan , 42, has been charged with Daniel's abduction and murder. The Courier-Mail (29-8-2011) Peter Hall/ Kristin Shorten http://www.news.com.au/national/daniel-morcombes-remains-confirmed/story-e6frfkvr-1226123791709#ixzz1Xi5s896O |
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Daniel Morcombe's fate to teach Queensland schoolchildren the dangers of child predators
DANIEL Morcombe's parents say their new role as State Government-endorsed child safety ambassadors will help turn their son's dark story into something positive. Bruce and Denise Morcombe this morning fronted loyal supporters as they announced the partnership, which will also see a new Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Program become a core component of Queensland's Prep to Year 9 curriculum. "I think Daniel's very real story is something that everybody understands no matter what the people's age," Mr Morcombe said. "We've had enormous change in our lives in the last three weeks. We're not quitters. We're going to make sure that we turn a very tragic event into something positive." Daniel was 13 when he disappeared in 2003 and police last month found some of his remains near a Sunshine Cost macadamia farm. Brett Peter Cowan, 42, has been charged with his abduction and murder. Mr Morcombe said the latest developments had been a "very difficult time in our lives" but he and his wife were determined to push ahead with a week-long school tour organised several months ago. The pair will tomorrow set off and tour from Brisbane to Cairns as a part of Child Protection Week. "It's a heavy commitment but at the end of the day it's about protecting kids," Mr Morcombe said. "We're happy to go face to face, talk to those kids in schools and hopefully our message will be retained because they're relating those safety tips back to Daniel's very real story." The State will inject $460,000 over two years into the new four-point child safety plan. The cash will help develop the new curriculum, further promote October's Day for Daniel, support the Morcombes in their new paid ambassador roles and provide a funding boost for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Praising the Morcombes as "truly courageous Queenslanders", Premier Anna Bligh this morning said she hoped to make the project national and said already other premiers had expressed interest. "On Father's Day I take my hat off particularly to Bruce and Denise Morcombe - their courage inspires all of us," she said. Earlier, the Sunday Mail revealed that Queensland students will be taught how to ward off predators under plans to introduce the Daniel Morcombe safety message into the state school curriculum. And a new universal distress signal could be developed so children in danger can easily alert the public. Premier Anna Bligh and Daniel's parents, Bruce and Denise, will announce a four-point child safety plan today. It includes a new role for the Morcombes, who will be paid child safety ambassadors, and a funding boost to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. The new compulsory subjects, to be taught from Prep to Year 9, are likely start from mid next year. The Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Program will become a core component of the curriculum. Daniel was 13 when he disappeared in 2003. Brett Peter Cowan, 42, has been charged with his abduction and murder. Despite years of heartache and recent news that police had found some of Daniel's remains near a Sunshine Coast macadamia farm, the Morcombes' stoicism and courage has inspired a nation. Ms Bligh said a working group, including police and Education Queensland, would help develop the child safety package and she would lobby for it to be adopted nationally. "I am grateful, and parents across Australia will be grateful, for the Morcombes' decision to use the lessons of the terrible tragedy they have experienced to protect our children," Ms Bligh said. Today, the Morcombes will begin a 4000km road trip from Brisbane to Cairns to promote their message to schools. "Daniel's abduction is a defining moment in terms of Queensland parents collectively recognising that child safety is important," Bruce Morcombe said yesterday. The Sunday Mail (Qld) (4-9-2011) Koren Helbig/ Renee Viellaris |
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Bones identified as Daniel Morcombe's
Queensland police have announced bones found at a crime scene in Sunshine Coast bushland belong to missing teenager Daniel Morcombe. Three bones and a pair of shoes were found at the site in the Beerburrum State Forest near Beerwah, which police have been combing through since the arrest of a suspect in Daniel's murder case. Daniel was 13 when he disappeared on his way to buy Christmas presents at Woombye in 2003, sparking the largest missing persons case in Queensland's history. His parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe have worked tirelessly to keep the case in the national consciousness. Police have named the man charged with Daniel's suspected murder and abduction as 41-year-old Brett Peter Cowan. Cowan has signalled he will fight the charges levelled against him. ABC (28-8-2011) |
Hunt for body after man charged with murder of missing schoolboy Daniel Morcombe
pic..missing teenager Daniel Morcombe POLICE will scour rugged Sunshine Coast bushland for the remains of missing teenager Daniel Morcombe after a former truck driver was charged with his murder yesterday. The surprise arrest of the 41-year-old man after eight harrowing years for the Morcombe family came after police lured him back to Queensland from Perth under a covert and complex strategy. He was arrested at 4pm and charged three hours later with murder, deprivation of liberty, child stealing, indecent treatment of a child under 16 and interfering with a corpse. At his home on the Sunshine Coast last night, an emotional Bruce Morcombe spoke of the moment he learnt police had charged a man with murdering his son. Mr Morcombe told how despite the days dragging into months and almost eight years with no arrests, he and wife Denise never gave up hope of a breakthrough in the search for Daniel, who was only 13 when he vanished while waiting for a bus at a Woombye overpass in 2003. "We always had the resolve," he said. "We have never once given up. We knew this day would come." Mr Morcombe said senior police officers had been in constant communication with the family throughout yesterday about developments in the case. He said that just after 5pm, he received a call from Commissioner Bob Atkinson and, almost simultaneously, Assistant Commissioner Mick Condon arrived at the door of his Palmwoods home. "The Commissioner told me police were about to charge someone in relation to Daniel's abduction," he said. Mr Morcombe said it brought mixed emotions and a "reality check" with fresh thoughts about what had happened to their boy. "It's very difficult ... Denise is crushed by it all," he said. "We don't really know what to say. We're not in the right frame of mind. We need to gather our thoughts." Mr Morcombe said there was no guilty verdict yet and "plenty of work ahead". He said the family's position had always been "step one: find Daniel; step two: find who's responsible". "An area has been identified and is being searched and this is our drive, to find Daniel." Mrs Morcombe wept as she told of how difficult this task would be. "During the floods, this spot had 10m of water through it," she said. Mr Morcombe said they had been told specialist excavation equipment would be brought in today. He spoke of how vital the coronial inquest into Daniel's disappearance had been and how, without the resurgence of interest and fresh leads generated, the investigation could have been a cold case. "The coronial process in layman's terms is a review process and (State Coroner Michael Barnes) saw something we didn't see. There's no doubt police have done an enormous amount of work but the inquest was crucial," Mr Morcombe said. The inquest has now been suspended. Brisbane Magistrates Court will be under tight security tomorrow when the man, who was a person of interest at the inquest, will answer the charges. The man - who cannot be named - was subpoenaed to provide further evidence to the inquiry later this year but it is understood police did not want to wait and used a covert strategy to lure him into their hands. Commissioner Atkinson, who signalled he wanted the case solved before he retired, praised the work of detectives last night. "Despite this breakthrough today, a significant amount of work remains to be done. That includes the search of an area of bushland on the Sunshine Coast," he said. The Sunday Mail (Qld) (14-8-2011) Renee Viellaris/ Peter Hall http://www.news.com.au/national/suspect-taken-into-custody-in-daniel-morcombe-investigation/story-e6frfkvr-1226114337978 |
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Man charged with murder, child stealing, deprivation of liberty, indecent treatment in Daniel Morcombe
disappearance
A 41-YEAR-old man (P7) has been charged with several charges, including murder and child stealing, in the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe. Police Commisioner Bob Atkinson told a news conference tonight a 41-year-old former truck driver had been charged with a number of offences including murder, deprivation of liberty, child stealing, indecent treatment of a child under 16, and interfering with a corpse. He was remanded in custody to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. 
The suspect (P7) is taken into custody Mr Atkinson thanked the media and members of the community for keeping the eight-year-old case in the public eye, saying it was the largest missing person investigation in the history of the Queensland Police Service. He said police would be searching an area of bushland on the Sunshine Coast. Thirteen-year-old schoolboy Daniel disappeared from beneath an overpass at Woombye on the Sunshine Coast in December 2003. Sky News reported police had travelled to the Sunshine Coast to inform Daniel's parents, Denise and Bruce, of the arrest. The development comes just days after police issued a renewed push to find the teenager, saying it remained an "ongoing priority" to solve the case eight years after he vanished. The Courier-Mail recently revealed at least 12 full-time detectives were working on the case, including six on the Sunshine Coast. Bruce Morcombe, who with his wife has tirelessly pursued answers in the disappearance, said tonight: "We'll just see how things pan out, we'll try to make a statement in the morning and go from there. Tonight is about just thanking people and recognising there finally has been someone charged." Premier Anna Bligh and Police Minister Neil Roberts released a joint statement tonight praising police efforts. "As a parent I can only imagine the heartbreak and devastation Bruce and Denise have endured since Daniel's disappearance," Ms Bligh said. "They have never stopped fighting to find out what has happened to Daniel. "They have since dedicated their time to educating the community about child safety and protection. "Their love for Daniel is an inspiration for us all." Mr Roberts said police investigated more than 18,000 job logs in relation to the case. "Despite the amount of time that has passed, officers continued to follow leads as they were identified," he said. "Today's arrest is a direct result of the commitment of the police to this case." The Courier-Mail (13-8-2011) http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/suspect-taken-into-custody-in-daniel-morcombe-investigation/story-e6freoof-1226114335485 View Media conference - Breakthrough in Daniel Morcombe murder investigation |
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If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe please phone Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Last Seen: approx 2.10pm Sunday the 7th of December 2003, Under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass on Nambour Connection Road (UBD 66L15) adjacent to the Christian Outreach Centre Woombye, Queensland. 
Missing- Daniel Morcombe www.danielmorcombe.com.au |
Morcombes appalled why criminals would lie to implicate themselves in Daniel's disappearance
(16-12-2010) Criminal witnesses are 'disgusting human beings' say Daniel Morcombe's parents (15-12-2010) Child molester was seen near bus stop when Daniel Morcombe went missing, inquest hears (15-12-2010) Witness tells inquiry she saw Daniel Morcombe, heard cries for help (15-12-2010) Man confessing to Daniel Morcombe's abduction and murder acting out of revenge, court told (15-12-2010) |
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Daniel Morcombe reward hits $1m after business contributions
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Australian Missing Children/ Persons
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An email (below) is currently circulating with information about Daniel. Please copy the information and send it to as many people as possible.
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Daniel Morcombe
Composite image of vechicle Child Abduction/Amber Alert
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DENISE Morcombe hasn't seen her son Daniel since he vanished near a Queensland highway overpass in 2003, but she prefers to think he's dead. As the first anniversary of the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann approaches, Mrs Morcombe spoke to NEWS.com.au about the torment of having a child simply disappear. Daniel was last seen at a bus stop on the Nambour Connection Rd on the Sunshine Coast on December 7, 2003. Then aged 13, he was going to catch a bus to a local shopping centre to get a haircut and buy some Christmas presents. A massive police hunt and community campaign to find Daniel came up empty, but Mrs Morcombe and her husband, Bruce, are still working full-time to find their beloved son. While the family - including Daniel's twin Bradley and older brother Dean - still live in the Sunshine Coast town of Palmwoods, they now move in different circles. “We’ve got a new group of friends,” Mrs Morcombe said. “It was difficult being around some of our old ones (because) it would be hard seeing their kids grow up.” When asked if she thought her son was still alive and whether she still might get the chance to see him grow older, Mrs Morcombe said: “I wouldn’t think so”. “I would hate to think what he has been through (if he is alive).” When he disappeared, Daniel was wearing a red Billabong T-shirt and dark cargo pants and carried a distinctive fob watch engraved with the word “Dan”, as well as a brown wallet. 'Closer to finding him' Mrs Morcombe said she was still optimistic she'd one day discover what happened to her son. “After all these years, I think we could only be closer (to finding him)," she said. “You’d think someone must know the answer.” In the wake of his disappearance, passing motorists reported seeing a man leaning against a the wall of an underpass near where Daniel was waiting for the bus. Witnesses described the man as aged 25-35, about 175cm tall, with a lean to muscular build, gaunt face, weathered complexion, dark brown wavy hair and a goatee beard. The Morecombes have since set up a foundation in the hope of finding Daniel and to assist other victims of crime. Mrs Morcombe said the Daniel Morcombe Foundation had received plenty of phone calls and emails, but said anyone with information should contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000. NEWS.com.au (29-4-2008) Mark Schliebs |
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POLICE investigating the disappearance of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe have been buoyed by another spike in public information following fresh appeals on Thursday. Senior Sergeant Julie Elliott said father Bruce Morcombe's questions about 13-year-old Daniel's abduction and suspected murder three years ago had prompted "a significant number" of phone calls to Crime Stoppers overnight and yesterday and the information was being checked by police. Officer in charge of the Maroochydore CIB, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Schmidt, said that up to 20,000 pieces of information had been received from the public since Daniel vanished on December 7, 2003. Mr Morcombe used the three-year anniversary to reveal the family's shocking belief that his son had been referred to by the pet name "Christmas cake" by a pedophile network which knew what had happened to him and he appealed for someone to come forward and help solve the crime. North Coast Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Inspector John Maloney said that Daniel's case was still of the highest priority and his disappearance would continue to be investigated. "The response from the public has been unprecedented and that, combined with the tireless work of police, will help us find those responsible," he said. "While we are yet to get the final breakthrough on Daniel's case, we have methodically built up a massive amount of information and intelligence. "We have had a number of people of interest in our sights and I want to make it clear we will not be stopping this investigation and the team working on this case is as determined today as it was three years ago." Insp Maloney said someone was "sitting" on information which would bring the case to a close. "I urge that person to make contact and help the Morcombe family cope with the burden they carry every day." Information can be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers. Courier Mail (8-12-2006) Glenis Green |
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THREE years on, police are still working tirelessly in the hunt for Daniel Morcombe, his father Bruce says. Daniel vanished on December 7, 2003, while waiting to catch a bus on the Nambour Connection Rd. Police believe he was abducted and murdered. Mr Morcombe said the family was constantly briefed by police on any developments. The Queensland Government has offered a $250,000 reward and indemnity for the person who provides the vital breakthrough. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers. Courier Mail (6-12-2006) |
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THE pain is still evident in their eyes but three years after the abduction of their teenage son Bruce and Denise Morcombe are trying to move on with life. They will mark today's third anniversary of 13-year-old Daniel's disappearance with a fresh public appeal for information. But they also are busy with plans to sell their Palmwoods, Sunshine Coast, acreage property. And Mrs Morcombe is looking forward to walking the rugged Milford Track in New Zealand's South Island next March. It will be a "girls only" trip with police officer Senior- Sergeant Julie Elliott, who has become a family friend during the prolonged investigation. Looking slim and trim after losing about 10kg in training for the big walk, the petite Mrs Morcombe said yesterday she found walking up to 10km a week therapeutic. Mr Morcombe said the family had decided to sell their Palmwoods home and 2ha property after October's "Day for Daniel" because their oldest son Dean,19, had left home and was running his own Jim's Trees franchise, while Daniel's twin brother Bradley would be turning 17 next week. The Morcombes said it would be a race to see whether Bradley would get his pilot's licence or driver's licence first. "We're not so far removed from pretty well every other family that, as the kids reach their high teens and start moving out and get their own careers, you start to look at the place and say, 'it's too bloody big'," Mr Morcombe said. The Morcombes said when they sold their home of the past 6½ years they planned to live between Palmwoods and Maroochydore. They had also recently purchased "a rural retreat" interstate. "But we'll live here – we can't leave Daniel up here," Mrs Morcombe said. Mrs Morcombe said even if they moved they would always keep Daniel's pony "Bullet" and that she still had all Daniel's clothes packed up and stored away. "There's even stuff of his still in the ironing basket that I haven't been able to face Courier Mail (6-12-2006) Glenis Green |
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A MAN believed to have been involved in the disappearance more then two years ago of Daniel Morcombe regularly stalked a school close to where the Queensland teen went missing, a new police report reveals. Six mothers witnessed a suspicious-looking man scanning the Sunshine Coast primary school on several occasions but did not report their concerns until months after Daniel disappeared, according to police. Queensland Homicide Investigations superintendent Mike Condon said the man was seen in a blue 1980s-model sedan at Woombye State Primary School eight times before Daniel went missing from nearby Nambour Connection Road on December 7, 2003. "The investigation has gathered information with a number of parents of children at the school saying they saw a blue sedan and a man sitting in it in the 10 weeks leading up to the abduction," Supt Condon said. "They stated that their attention was drawn to the car because the man never appeared to pick any children up," he said. "We are asking other parents or others in the area to recall whether they saw this vehicle." Daniel, who was 13 when he went missing, was last seen talking to two men in a car similar to the one described by the women. Police have released new composite images of the suspect created from their statements. They reveal a scruffy man with blond surfer-style hair, who is probably in his late 20s or early 30s. Police and Daniel's parents have waged a nationwide publicity campaign since the teen went missing. Investigators regularly travel interstate to check out possible leads on the case, including people arrested on pedophilia charges. AAP (24-6-2006) |
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THE parents of missing Queensland teenager Daniel Morcombe are preparing to help the family of another abducted teen, who was rescued by police after three weeks. Daniel, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, disappeared in December 2003 while out Christmas shopping. He was 13 at the time, and although his body has never been found, police believe he was abducted and murdered. Yesterday Queensland police ruled out a link between his disappearance and the kidnapping of Perth teenager Blake Edwards. Fourteen-year-old Blake was held in a rundown house in south-east Perth for 20 days until Monday, when Western Australian police freed him. Police have charged two men with deprivation of liberty. Meanwhile, Daniel?s mother Denise said her family - through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation set up to help victims of crime - wanted to help Blake. She said she may try to contact him in a couple of months. The Morcombe family is also planning a child safety awareness day, to take place in Queensland schools in November. AAP (22-9-2005) |
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POLICE have doorknocked more than 900 homes and businesses on Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland in their continuing investigation into the disappearance of teenager Daniel Morcombe. Daniel, 13, was last seen on December 7, 2003, waiting for a bus at Palmwoods to go shopping. Police investigations have centred on a late model blue car reported near when Daniel was waiting for the bus and a white courier-style van also seen in the area. A police spokeswoman said today more than 100 detectives had spent the weekend knocking on every door in the hinterland town of Woombye, close to where he was last seen, seeking any new information on Daniel's disappearance. She said the doorknock had been successful and police had received some new pieces of information that would be fully investigated. "We are very pleased with the results and this doorknock is a message that we are not giving up the search for Daniel despite the 18 months that have passed," she said. A reward of $250,000 has been posted for information, including possible indemnity from prosecution for any accomplice who did not actually have a hand in Daniel's disappearance, which leads to a prosecution. AAP (22-5-2005) |
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