Daniel Morcombe: Key moments in story that shook us all
APN goes back over the key moments in the Daniel Morcombe case - Queensland's biggest missing person investigation.
Central Queensland
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December 7, 2003: Daniel Morcombe leaves his Palmwoods home to catch a bus to buy Christmas presents at Sunshine Plaza.
He is last seen standing on the side of the Nambour Connection Road, under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass just after 2pm.
His parents Bruce and Denise return from Brisbane and raise the alarm at 7.30pm after an initial family search fails to find him.
December 14, 2003: Investigators stage a re-enactment of Daniel's last known movements. They call for more information about a blue sedan some witnesses had reported seeing nearby.
December 19, 2003: Daniel's 14th birthday passes with no trace of the teenager.
March 18, 2004: Daniel's parents meet with then-premier Peter Beattie, who declares a second Red Ribbon Day for a state-wide campaign aimed at protecting children.
April 2004: Bruce and Denise Morcombe launch an advertising campaign appealing for information.
May 25, 2004: Police put an extra 20 detectives on the case after receiving new leads.
June, 2004: A man faces Brisbane court for sending a hoax email to extort money from the Morcombes.
October, 2004: A $250,000 reward is posted by the Queensland government for anyone who can provide information to help police solve Daniel's case.
November 2004: Police release three sketches of a man seen standing near Daniel on Nambour Connection Rd, generated from multiple witness accounts. Police seize a van in Brisbane.
December, 2004: A memorial service is held one year after Daniel went missing. More than 1000 attend. A plaque is also unveiled in his memory.
February 2005: Bruce and Denise announce the launch of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. The foundation's aim is to educate children about child safety and help children who are victims of crime.
December 2008: A reward is increased to $1 million for information that leads to an arrest.
May 2009: A clay model, created by combining elements of suspect sketches, is commissioned by the Morcombes to help campaign for information from the public.
October 2010: A coronial inquest begins into Daniel's suspected abduction and murder.
December 19, 2010: Daniel's 21st birthday marks a poignant time in the middle of the coronial inquest.
April 2, 2011: The coronial inquest closes.
August 13, 2011: Police arrest and charge Brett Peter Cowan with Daniel's murder following an undercover operation in Perth. A police search of a property on Kings Road at Glass House Mountains begins.
August 17: First shoe, believed to belong to Daniel, is found.
August 20: Second shoe, first human bone found.
August 21 2011: Two bones found.
August 30: Search resumes at main site after rain.
September, 2011: More bones found, including cluster of six. Denise and Bruce Morcombe are named Queensland's child safety ambassadors for their work with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
September 26, 2011: Clothing found in sand in Coochin Creek
November 17, 2011: Bruce and Denise Morcombe named Queensland's Australians of the Year.
November 29, 2012: Cowan, through his lawyer, consents for Daniel's remains to be released back to the family. The remains are soon given back to the Morcombes, 15 months after they were found.
December 7, 2012: Daniel Morcombe is laid to rest in emotional service at Catherine of Siena Church at Sippy Downs, nine years to day after he vanished.
February 7, 2013: Brett Peter Cowan committed to stand trial for the abduction and murder of Daniel Morcombe.
February, 2014: A jury hears for the first time the prosecution case against Cowan. In a confession, Cowan tells undercover police he just wanted to have some 'fun' with him before he panicked and killed the Sunshine Coast teenager. Cowan's defence points the finger at convicted child rapist Douglas Jackway.
March 12, 2014: After 18 days of evidence from 116 witnesses as well as 218 exhibits, the jury retires to consider its verdict.
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