Cold case murder: Kali Edmonds tells of last moments with friend Heather Turner killed 19 years ago
KALI Edmonds can still remember saying goodbye to her best friend, Heather Turner, even though it was 19 years ago.
KALI Edmonds can still remember saying goodbye to her best friend, Heather Turner, even though it was 19 years ago.
Standing on The Esplanade, at Semaphore, on the afternoon of January 16, 1998, she gave Heather a hug and said: “See you tonight.’’
Although Kali, now 35, had an inkling something wasn’t right, she had little idea Heather would not keep their planned date and it would be the last time she would see her.
A fortnight later — January 31 — Heather’s body would be found floating in a tidal creek at Port Gawler, just north of Adelaide.
Kali said the pair, who were both 16 at the time, had met up at Semaphore Square to catch up while she supervised her brothers and sister on the waterslide.
When Heather left, she said she was going to her Largs Bay home.
“I pleaded to go with her because I didn’t have anything else on for the day, but she was adamant she’d be fine and wouldn’t be long,’’ Kali said.
The pair attended Largs Bay Primary together and their friendship grew stronger at Taperoo High from 1995 where they took the same classes and sat together for several years. They lost contact when Heather drifted away from her parents in Year 10 but had renewed their friendship in the months before she was killed.
“I remember her spirit, she was just so fun-loving,’’Kali said.
While there were several unconfirmed sightings in the days after Heather left Kali, Major Crime detectives have established she was last seen at a Davoren Park house which was occupied by petty criminals.
They have also revealed her body was stored for several days after she was killed.
Major Crime case officer Detective Brevet Sergeant Shaun Osborn said Ms Turner left the Ashton Rd premises willingly in the early hours of Monday, January 19, in a Mitsubishi Magna sedan in the company of a male “acquaintance’’.
“We know she left the house and intended to return to her Largs Bay home,’’ he said.
She was not seen alive after leaving the house and her body was found in mangroves at Port Gawler 12 days later. It was dressed in the same clothes she was wearing but her distinctive shoulder bag has never been recovered.
Detectives are about to conduct a fresh review of the case file, with investigations focusing on several people known to have been present at the Davoren Park house the night Ms Turner visited.
“Our inquiries extend to those we believe were present at that house on the night of January 18 and into the morning of the 19th,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Osborn said.
Known to police, the occupants are petty criminals and low-level drug users. Detective Bvt Sgt Osborn said Ms Turner was simply “a rebellious young teenager who was starting to mature” and was going through a “rebellious stage’’.
“She had a solid, respectful family background,” he said. “It appears during this stage of her life she was associating with some undesirable people. She was vulnerable to those she was mixing with.’’
While the location of her murder is unknown, one vehicle was seized by police and forensically examined, but provided no leads.
“We are confident she has left Ashton Rd willingly and alive,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Osborn said.
While detectives do not want the cause of her death revealed, Ms Turner died a violent death after being severely assaulted.
“The opinion is the body was placed somewhere before being put in the water. It has spent some time on dry land,’’ he said.
“It suggests a degree of urgency in the initial disposal to conceal the crime.
There is also a degree of callousness in the final disposal.
“This is an area (Port Gawler) that was used to dump cars and it is obvious she was going to be found.’’
In 2014, a reward of $1 million was posted for information leading to a conviction in the case.
It has prompted several people to contact police with information but more is needed to advance the case.
“We believe there are several people who know what happened to Heather who can assist the inquiry,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Osborn said.
Kali urged any of Heather’s former associates to contact police and reveal what happened to Heather.
“Her family has waited 19 years; they lost their child and really don’t know what happened,’’ she said.
“It is time to put it to rest.’’