Forensic tests confirm bones those of Adelaide grandmother Anna Jenkins

A grieving family will plan a memorial now that SA forensics have confirmed bones found in Malaysia are the Glenelg East grandmother.

South Australian forensic experts have confirmed bones found on a Malaysian building site are the remains of Glenelg East grandmother Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins.

However, the forensic check did not find any evidence of how Mrs Jenkins died.

Major Crime Investigation Branch police had arranged for DNA identification to be established by Forensic Science SA.

Inadequate work by Malaysian authorities, including handing the remains to Mrs Jenkins’ son, Greg, in an open bag inside an unsealed cardboard box, had created uncertainty about their identity.

Mrs Jenkins’ daughter, Jen Bowen, told The Advertiser confirmation that they were her mother’s remains was a relief.

“It never gets any easier, it is devastating each time something new comes up but at least this does give us some closure,” she said.

Jen Bowen with brother Greg Jenkins arriving at Adelaide Airport carrying Anna’s remains in a cardboard box.

Frank and Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins. Picture: Supplied

“We can now work towards a memorial service.”

Malaysian-born Mrs Jenkins, 67, vanished on December 13, 2017, during a visit to Penang with her husband, Frank. She was en route to visit her mother in an aged-care home.

Relentless searching by her children, Greg and Jen, as well as offers of rewards and thousands of missing persons posters resulted in some of Anna’s remains being found on a building site – some were discovered by Greg.

He brought them back to Australia aboard a flight as carry-on luggage.

An inquest in Malaysia in March heard an Uber driver was called to take Mrs Jenkins from a dentist appointment to visit her mother, but the driver claims the devout Catholic suddenly asked to be let out at a Hindu school to visit a mystery friend.

It also heard she made a distress call to her husband, Frank, and said two Ukrainians she did not know had “arrested her” and were demanding her passport.

There is speculation it was part of a robbery-ransom plot that went wrong.

The inquest was adjourned until next month and officials have demanded police put more effort into their investigation.

Greg Jenkins and South Australian MLC Frank Pangallo plan to attend the inquest when it resumes.

Mr Pangallo has requested that Attorney-General Kyam Maher hold an inquest in South Australia.

Mr Maher referred inquiries directly to the Coroner. The Courts Administration Authority told The Advertiser the Coroner would not comment on which cases it was considering for an inquest.

The family is bitterly disappointed by the efforts of Malaysian police to find their mother when she went missing. At one stage they were told “she has a right to disappear and the right not to be found”.