Family shares emotional tribute for Adelaide teen Daniel Sheppard, missing for 28 years

Adelaide teen Daniel Sheppard went missing after a night out one New Year’s Eve – but his family still have no answers, sharing their unbearable grief in an emotional tribute.

Daniel Sheppard went missing 28 years ago on New Year's Eve 1995 and has not been seen since he got off a train at Port Adelaide to walk the 10-minute trip home.

The distraught family of missing teenager Daniel Sheppard have shared their heartbreak on the 28th anniversary of his disappearance.

The 19-year-old from West Lakes went missing on New Year’s Day in 1995 after enjoying end of year celebrations the night before with his twin brother and friends. But after getting off a train at Port Adelaide, 10 minutes’ walk from his home, he vanished.

South Australian coroner Mark Johns ruled that Daniel was most likely dead in 2005.

He said, on the basis that Daniel’s mother or twin brother would have heard from him in the past 10 years if he was alive, “I am entitled to assume that Mr Sheppard’s disappearance is attributable to the … fact he is dead’’.

Daniel's sisters Denise Scarborough and Jenny Smitham. Picture: Tom Huntley

The family – who started a social media page in hopes of leading to more information – shared their heartbreak on the loss and lack of answers in an emotional tribute.

“I’m in disbelief that I’m writing the number 28 here! I never thought all these years later that we would be no closer to having answers as we were 28 years ago,” they wrote on Facebook.

“We miss Daniel so much! We love him so much. Our lives changed irreparably from the loss of Daniel.

“He had his whole life ahead of him. Cruelly take away before his time.

“We love you Daniel.”

Daniel aged 18 with his mother. Picture: Supplied

Since his disappearance 28 years ago, the family still haven’t had any answers or leads as to what happened to Daniel.

Daniel’s nephew David Sheppard previously spoke to The Advertiser and said he and other family members had met a woman who claims she heard the missing teen yelling and phoned police hours before anyone knew he was missing.

“She heard muffled screaming and car doors slamming, then a car came down the street with no lights on, and it was still dark,” he said.

Mr Sheppard said the family believed Daniel was likely the victim of predatory sex attackers out cruising the streets looking for victims.