Grandmother reveals why Tia Palmer wanted to stay with foster family

TIAHLEIGH Palmer didn’t want to return to her mother’s care because she had a “crush” on Trent Thorburn, her grandmother says.

TIAHLEIGH Palmer didn’t want to return to her mother’s care because she had a “crush” on Trent Thorburn, it can be revealed.

The 12-year-old was given the chance to leave the Thorburn family home at Chambers Flat months before she was killed but told her grandmother, Sue Palmer, that she wanted to stay close to Trent.

The attraction allegedly proved fatal, as police claim Trent’s father Rick Thorburn killed her and dumped Tiahleigh’s body on the bank of the Pimpama River when he found out about the incestuous relationship.

Tiahleigh Palmer's grandmother Sue Palmer, 65, at her home in Shailer Park. Picture: Tara Croser

“She said she wanted to stay because of the boy and because she loved the horses on the property that they have there,” Ms Palmer said.

“We didn’t have any idea as to what was actually happening there – just that she had a crush on the boy and that was the main reason she wanted to stay.”

Ms Palmer, who cared for Tiahleigh for the first 10 years of her life, said the family would struggle to move on from the loss of their little girl, despite the case breakthrough.

“How could it be closure when we haven’t got our granddaughter?,” she said.

“Tiahleigh’s not walking through my door anytime soon, so why should this bring any of us closure?”

For now, she hoped justice would be served to those the police allege are responsible for her death.