DANIEL MORCOMBE - Aged 13 years - Queensland (Australia)

ABC Online

17 December 2010

Daniel Morcombe inquest adjourned‎

The inquest into the abduction of teenager Daniel Morcombe from Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland has been adjourned.

The 13-year-old boy disappeared in 2003 while waiting for a bus at Woombye.

Coroner Michael Barnes has heard testimony from police involved in the investigation as well as six persons of interest during hearings in Brisbane this week.

...... The inquest is to resume next year.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/17/3096412.htm?section=justin

The Australian

18 December 2010

Heartbroken Morcombe family comes face-to-face with monsters

AFTER a week of dubious evidence, Daniel Morcombe's family is no closer to learning his fate.
AS the convicted pedophile sat in the dock to give his unsubstantiated confession of the abduction and sexual exploitation of missing Sunshine Coast schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, the teen's mother stared at him so intensely he covered his face.

It was the first time the grieving mother had eyeballed the person of interest, P33, a stocky man with a furrowed brow and dark, deep-set eyes, who has claimed involvement in the high-profile crime since 2004.

Denise Morcombe continued to sit stoically beside her husband, Bruce, in the Brisbane Coroner's Court as the man she described as a monster detailed his callous blow-by-blow account of the abduction, sexual assault and murder of her missing son.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/heartbroken-morcombe-family-comes-face-to-face-with-monsters/story-e6frg6z6-1225972938135

Herald Sun

18 December 2010

Morcombes tell of hope and anguish‎

DANIEL Morcombe would have turned 21 tomorrow.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad-application/morcombes-tell-of-hope-and-anguish/story-fn6bfmgc-1225972967597

The Daily Telegraph

18 November 2010

Morcombes tell of anguish and hope as Daniel's 21st birthday approaches

BRUCE and Denise Morcombe will rise to an occasion tomorrow - the 21st birthday of their twin boys Daniel and Bradley.
They will greet the day with strength and hope, because these are the qualities that have defined them since the suspected abduction and murder of Daniel about seven years ago.

No trace of Daniel, then 12 days shy of his 14th birthday, has ever been found. And nobody has been charged.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/morcombes-tell-of-anguish-and-hope-as-daniels-21st-birthday-approaches/story-e6freuzr-1225973042723

Sunshine Coast Daily

18 December 2010

Molester denies lies about Daniel‎

A SELF-CONFESSED child molester yesterday denied he was trying to torture the Morcombe family with his web of lies.

Known as P33, he claims he was involved in the abduction, rape and murder of Daniel Morcombe in December 2003.

He admitted yesterday in Brisbane Coroners Court that he had made up conversations he supposedly had with P32, his accomplice and long-time sexual abuser.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/12/18/molester-denies-lies-about-daniel-morcombe-inquest/

Sunshine Coast Daily

18 December 2010

Morcombes, lawyer tell of disgust‎

THE dark, brooding storms and the fierce thunder and lightning circling Brisbane during the Daniel Morcombe coronial inquest could be just a coincidence.

But the Morcombes won't discount it's Daniel's wrath, his lost spirit spurring them to find the answers, to find him.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe are realists who are pragmatic about what might have happened to their 13-year-old son seven years ago.

They know he is probably dead, most likely murdered, but they want to lay his body to rest and give him a grave that they can visit.

The vast web of lies spun during the inquest this week by career criminals means they may never know how he died.

But the Morcombes believe Daniel's spirit is compelling them to seek the truth amid these “disgusting, despicable” lies.

“They're just disgusting. It's like we've attracted every lowest piece of scum on the earth,” Mrs Morcombe said.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/12/18/searching-for-truth-in-scum-daniel-morcombe/

Herald Sun

19 December 2010

Daniel Morcombe's parents resigned to hear only lies from persons of interest

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/daniel-morcombes-parents-resigned-to-hear-only-lies-from-persons-of-interest/story-e6frf7l6-1225973335239

Sunshine Coast Daily

29 December 2010

Hearings reveal most hideous lies‎

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/12/30/daniel-morcombe-caloundra-manslaughter/

Courier Mail

20 January 2011

Review ordered into Daniel case‎

This comes as Mr Condon prepares to give evidence about how the investigation was conducted when the inquest, held before Coroner Michael Barnes, resumes in March.
MORE than seven years after the disappearance of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe, a new taskforce has been set up at police headquarters in Brisbane to review evidence related to his suspected abduction.

A police source said Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon has pulled between 30 and 40 detectives in from other areas of the State Crime Operations Command to sift through 5000 job logs related to the 13-year-old boy's disappearance on December 7, 2003.

Some police officers say the latest move is a "face-saving exercise" and a thorough review should have occurred sooner.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/review-ordered-into-daniel-case/story-fn6ck51p-1225991329368

Sunshine Coast Daily

21 January 2011

No confirming new Daniel bid‎

POLICE yesterday would not confirm reports a new taskforce had been set up at police headquarters to review evidence related to the suspected abduction and murder of Daniel Morcombe.

But his parents Denise and Bruce Morcombe hope a media report detailing how 30 to 40 detectives had been seconded to sift through some of the 18,000 job logs related to the 13-year-old's disappearance from Woombye seven years ago is true.

“We're happy if the investigation is continuing and they're checking everything again,” Mrs Morcombe said.

“It doesn't matter how long it takes, we just want an answer. We've been waiting this long.

“We just hope they're going over each lead, one by one, checking cars, phone numbers and different people.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/01/21/no-confirming-new-daniel-bid-sunshine-coast/

Sunshine Coast Daily

10 February 2011

Daniel's parents' two days of hell‎

THE parents of missing schoolboy Daniel Morcombe say police initially thought it possible that bones found in a 44 gallon drum at Caboolture could be their son’s.

But the bombshell was short-lived, according to Bruce Morcombe.

Mr Morcombe said a Sunday morning phone call to the family from Queensland Police chief superintendent Mike Condon put speculation to rest.

“I can confirm that we received a private phone call from a senior police officer over the weekend prior to the media being alerted to this body in the barrel,” Mr Morcombe said.

The 44 gallon drum was discovered in the upper reaches of the Caboolture River last Saturday.

Mr Morcombe said during the few “extremely unnerving” days between phone calls the family felt it necessary to keep the information to themselves.

He said witness testimony at an ongoing inquest that their son’s body had been dumped in a barrel meant the drum’s contents were of significant interest.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/02/10/daniel-morcombe-police-caboolture-bones-dead/

View News Sunshine Coast

17 february 2011

Slipper presented Gillard scarf to Morcombe Foundation

LNP Member for Fisher Peter Slipper presented the Morcombe Foundation with a scarf worn by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on “Day for Daniel” last year in the Australian Parliament.

The scarf, with a supporting letter from Prime Minister Gillard, is a unique memento that will be framed and auctioned to raise funds and bring attention to the work of the Morcombe Foundation.

“It was a fantastic gesture of the Prime Minister and many other senior members of the Australian Parliament to get so involved in Day for Daniel and to draw attention to this important event,” Mr Slipper said.

“I was very impressed to see a sea of red in the House of Representatives, drawing attention to the Morcombe Foundation and the need for vigilance on the issue of child safety.”

http://viewnews.com.au/bm/news/sunshine-coast-news/slipper-presented-gillard-scarf-to-morcombe-founda.shtml?20609

9 News

Man charged with Daniel Morcombe's murder

21:42 AEST Sat Aug 13 2011

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8285201/major-breakthrough-in-missing-boy-case

news.com.au

Daniel Morcombe's parents tell of emotional struggle after murder charge

From: AAP

August 14, 2011 6:26PM

http://www.news.com.au/national/suspect-taken-into-custody-in-daniel-morcombe-investigation/story-e6frfkvr-1226114574784#ixzz1UzZD3eyA

wow is all I can say. It must be so sad for the family.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Human bones found at Daniel Morcombe search site

Bridie Jabour

August 21, 2011.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/human-bones-found-at-daniel-morcombe-search-site-20110821-1j4hk.html#ixzz1VmgwGf00

This is a very sad and disturbing. I am praying for the family that they find the closure they need and the strength for what lies ahead.

The Age

Human bones found at Daniel Morcombe search site

Bridie Jabour

August 21, 2011.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/human-bones-found-at-daniel-morcombe-search-site-20110821-1j4hk.html#ixzz1Vmi53XiX

N.B. DNA confirmation yet to be established.

Sky News

22 August 2011

Human bones found in search for missing boy

http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16054764

news.com.au

Daniel Morcombe's parents say discovery of human bones at search site is 'a relief'

By Robert Kidd and Kristin Shorten

From: The Courier-Mail

August 22, 2011 11:08AM

http://www.news.com.au/national/daniel-morcombes-parents-say-discovery-of-human-bones-at-search-site-is-a-relief/story-e6frfkvr-1226119112290#ixzz1VmgJtt8v

ABC Online

22 August 2011

Missing teenager's parents hopeful after human bones discovered‎

Transcript

PETER CAVE: The parents of missing teenager Daniel Morcombe say they have fresh hope this morning after human bones were discovered at a search site on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
After years of waiting, there've been three major discoveries in the swampy bushland in the past five days including what may be Daniel's shoes.
Police are cautioning the discoveries might not be linked to the investigation but the Morcombe's lawyers say they're the most significant to date.
Stephanie Smail reports.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Ever since their 13-year-old son disappeared Bruce and Denise Morcombe have focused their energy on one thing.
BRUCE MORCOMBE: Our priority as parents of Daniel is to find Daniel and that's what we are driven to do.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: More than 100 police and SES volunteers have been scouring the muddy primary search site which is smaller than a tennis court.
A shoe was uncovered on Wednesday and a second on Saturday - police say they're a matching pair.
The Morcombe's lawyer Peter Boyce has spoken to the couple since human bones were found on the site yesterday and says they're feeling positive about the fresh clues.
PETER BOYCE: All of it is part of putting together the puzzle and it's another step in that process of a) finding out what happened to Daniel and b) hopefully getting some way for them to be able to say a proper goodbye.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Police are cautioning the bones and shoes may not be related to the investigation.
Peter Boyce says the Morcombe's are hopeful, but they've been disappointed by false leads in the past.
PETER BOYCE: Don't forget that they've had prior occasions where people have suggested you'll find a red shirt here or a red something there and all of that has led to nothing. So given that there's such intense concentration of effort in this area but there are shoes now which are said to be matching and then human bones. That by far outweighs any of the other information that they've ever been given.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: The Morcombes have been in Melbourne with family for the past few days.
Peter Boyce says they're now trying to get back to Queensland as soon as possible. He says they're resilient, but it's an awful situation.
PETER BOYCE: Every time you get new information as much as people get excited about the fact there's some new information, new find et cetera it still you know, it all comes back to well, that probably was my son. That's good and bad isn't it in the sense that you'd want to find out what happened to him but it's a bit of a stark reality when you have to face up to what it is.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: The bones and shoes will undergo a range of scientific tests but it could be weeks before the results are known.
Peter Boyce is hoping authorities will accelerate the testing process for Bruce and Denise Morcombe's sake.
PETER BOYCE: They've been waiting such a long time and now in a week three major finds of significance have been taken by police from the site so the sooner they find out the answer as to whether it is Daniel's DNA and whether DNA can be obtained from each of the samples the better for them and they really need to know.
STEPHANIE SMAIL: Forty-two-year-old Brett Peter Cowan has been charged with Daniel Morcombe's murder and is due to appear in court next month.
The search for the schoolboy's remains continues today.
PETER CAVE: Stephanie Smail reporting.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-22/missing-teenagers-parents-hopeful-after-human/2849910

ABC Local

23 August 2011

Shoes are same brand as Morcombe's‎

Police have confirmed that a pair of shoes found at a search site in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland are the same brand that Daniel Morcombe was wearing when he disappeared in 2003.

Three bones and the shoes have been located at the Beerwah search site so far and will undergo tests.

The search for the schoolboy's remains has been suspended due to bad weather.

Daniel's father Bruce Morcombe says his family has been rocked by developments in the search for his son's remains.

"It's a very, very unusual type of news to receive where you just don't know how to receive the news that potentially, depending on the significance of that find, is that going to be the final chapter or not," he said.

Mr Morcombe says he is struggling to come to terms with the latest developments.

"The significance of the bone find is not lost on the family, and we're aware that that primary site is definitely of interest to the police and we're choked with emotion being the possibility that it is Daniel," he said.

"Of course we're really hopeful that it is, which can bring to conclusion an extremely sad chapter in our family's life."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-22/morcombe-search-suspended/2850144/?site=brisbane

Herald Sun

24 August 2011

DNA evidence could still be on shoes‎

DNA evidence could still be on shoes discovered last week during the search for Daniel Morcombe's remains in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Experts said it was possible traces of Daniel's environment would still be attached to the sneakers, helping investigators piece together the teenager's final movements after he was allegedly abducted while waiting for a bus at Woombye in December 2003.

Director of the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Technology in Sydney, Professor Claude Roux, said DNA on the shoes would be vital to reconstructing events before Daniel's death.

"It may be difficult when you are only left with bones, but with things such as shoes you may be able to trace some evidence back to the environment of the person of interest," he said.

The advice comes after two Globe shoes believed to belong to the 13-year-old were last week found about 10m apart at the alleged crime scene in the Glass House Mountains.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/undercover-police-lived-alongside-daniel-morcombe-accused-brett-peter-cowan-at-perth-caravan-park/story-fn7x8me2-1226120062220

New Zealand Herald

23 August 2011

Family waits for proof bones and shoes from missing son‎

The discovery of two shoes and three human bones in bushland on the Sunshine Coast is a promising sign Daniel Morcombe may finally have been found, but his father says he will wait for definite proof before making plans to bury his son.

A pair of shoes were found last week that were the same Globe brand as those the 13-year-old was wearing when he was last seen alive in 2003.

Father Bruce Morcombe said the find was significant but not conclusive.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10746877