Royal Malaysian Police rule death of Adelaide grandmother Annapuranee Jenkins as ‘sudden’

The family of a woman whose bones were found at a site in Malaysia say they are at their wits’ end after learning the results of police investigations.

Malaysian Police have ruled the disappearance and death of an Adelaide grandmother as “unexplainable” and “sudden” and are preparing to close the case, her distraught family says.

Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins, 65, was visiting her sick elderly mother when she vanished in mysterious circumstances in suburban George Town, Penang Island, on December 13, 2017.

Mrs Jenkins’ bones and possessions were found by a construction worker in March this year at a $107m Kensington Gardens villa development, less than 1km from her last known location.

Her son, Greg Jenkins, flew to Malaysia, where he submitted samples that DNA tests matched to the human remains in August.

But Mr Jenkins said Royal Malaysian Police and his lawyer had told him investigators were looking to hand over the case to be finalised by the courts.

Annapuranee Jenkins with husband Frank Jenkins in Penang the day before she disappeared on December 13, 2017. Picture: Supplied

“Even though I found skull fragments and part of her spine, (police) are saying she just wandered off into the jungle and it was a sudden death,” Mr Jenkins said.

“They’re not investigating it. They’re saying it was a sudden death and unexplainable so no further action.

“They still haven’t got the final results from the forensic team.”

Mr Jenkins said police had accused the family of going to the media to tarnish the reputation of investigators.

“It’s got nothing to do with finger pointing at anyone. It’s just finding out what happened and who did this to Mum,” he said.

“I feel like we’re fighting against the police just to get them to do their job. It’s painful.”

Mr Jenkins said he believed the discovery of his mum’s remains would finally provide a breakthrough in the investigation.

But he said the inaction of police had only brought more heartache, frustration and confusion to him and his family.

Australian and Malaysian money was found among the items on a Penang construction site. Picture: Supplied

Rosary beads were found among the items on a Penang construction site. Picture: Supplied

The construction worker who tipped off the family to the bones and possessions was paid a reward, which police pressured him into handing over when they accused him of murder.

“We’re all at our wits’ end and absolutely emotionally exhausted and drained. It’s consumed our life for the past three years,” Mr Jenkins said.

“We just want answers to bring mum home. If they close the case then we can bring mum home but then all those questions still linger and I know it doesn’t sit right with me.

“We’re fully aware that we may never get answers but I have to know in my heart we’ve exhausted every single avenue with the Malaysian authorities.”

Mr Jenkins said he was prepared to go back to Malaysia despite the prohibitive costs of staying in a hotel during the coronavirus pandemic.