Tahnee Shanks: Family to fund private investigator to trace Mexico disappearance
The family of a Queensland mum missing in Mexico fear vital evidence may be wiped as they face major hurdles with authorities in their quest to hire a private eye to join the hunt.
Whitsunday
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Officers investigating the disappearance of a Queensland mother in Mexico have revealed her estranged partner had two separate domestic violence complaints against him.
It comes as Tahnee Shanks’s family raises concerns vital CCTV footage is now being overwrriten more than a month after she vanished in a popular tourist destination with a dangerous underbelly.
The Whitsunday mum, 32, has been missing for more than a month, since her daughter Adelynn, 2, was dumped outside a church in a dangerous part of Cancun on May 2.
Her former partner Jorge Luis Aguirre Astudillo has also been missing since that date when they were all seen together on a toll road in their Toyota Tundra.
There is a mysterious eight-hour gap before Adelynn was abandoned alone at a church and then their Tundra is found burnt out 45 minutes later with no number plates and serial numbers ground off.
Quintana Roo general attorney Óscar Montes de Oca Rosales is pursuing two lines of inquiry – that Ms Shanks is missing at her estranged partner’s hands in a domestic violence situation, or they have been the victims of “retaliation” for Mr Aguirre Astudillo’s dodgy dealings and possible Mexican cartel links.
Mr de Oca Rosales said this week Mr Aguirre Astudillo had two judicial complaints lodged against him in Mexico’s legal system.
It is understood the two complaints could be from two different women.
Ms Shanks had told friends in texts that he had not been physically violent toward her but she feared the verbal and coercive abuse would escalate.
Mr de Oca Rosales said he had confirmed Ms Shanks and Mr Aguirre Astudillo had separated before they went missing.
Her family and friends do not know why they were on a driving holiday together with their daughter Adelynn when they went missing.
The family now fears that, since a month has passed, any further CCTV that could be vital to the case could be lost as tapes are often overwritten after 30 days.
Ms Shanks’s brother Daniel said the family continued to make regular contact with the Australian embassy because Mexican authorities had instructed them to stop contacting them directly.
“As you can imagine this is frustrating and time consuming,” he said.
“It takes longer for any correspondence or information to reach them, as it has to filter through departments before being received.
“However usually no reply is received in return and we still have not had any updates on the case.
“Most of the questions we have sent through still remain unanswered, including details on the whereabouts of Adelynn’s clothing, DNA testing and if any of Jorge’s family members or friends have been questioned.”
The Shanks family says they have been working to engage a “highly-recommended” private investigator to take on Tahnee’s case but there have been complications.
On the Facebook page Bring Tahnee Home, the family said this would likely cost them more than A$10,000 on top of the MX$1,000,000 (A$70,000) reward they have posted for Tahnee’s safe return.
“Before he can even commence his investigation, he has requested a copy of Tahnee’s files to ensure he has all of the details prior to flying to Cancun and Merida,” Dan Shanks, from Conway Beach, said
“As engaging this type of professional service is not cheap and is generally charged at a daily rate, plus expenses, the investigator wants to ensure he has any available information.
“We spoke with the Australian embassy to get a request sent through to the Mexican police department and have a copy of the file released to the PI.
“This request was sent. Several days later a response was received stating that a formal written request was required for this to happen.
“We formally requested, in writing, that the files be released on June 2, 2022, but the PI has still not received any files or information.
“It has been recommended to us that due to the lack of action and urgent nature of the case that we will need to hire a lawyer to have the relevant information released so the PI can begin his investigation.
“The family have agreed that this is the best course of action and the legal process has commenced.
“We have concerns that the delays in releasing the case details, could have already impacted our investigators findings, he has indicated the CCTV surveillance systems used generally run on a 30-day cycle and if vital footage has been missed it is likely to have been re-recorded over by now.
“This is a devastating thought for the family.”
Tributes for Ms Shanks continue to pour in as everyone in her circle, and beyond, continues to search relentlessly for answers.
Friend Jordan Sedwin said he spent a few months travelling with Tahnee and her former boyfriend Cory in Colombia and Ecuador seven years ago.
“They lifted me out of an awful situation and it’s because of them that I was able to escape and rise above it and move in with my life,” he said.
“I love Tahnee for that and her friendship.
“I’m so happy to see her family doing everything possible to find her.
“I can’t imagine what this must feel like for family. Sending all the best vibes that I can.”
Sam Yuskan said the whole situation must be rough for the family.
“(It) hurts my heart enough from afar,” she said.
“Sometimes I think this isn’t real, and then I am reminded it absolutely is.
“Poor Tahnee, I really hate that you’re all going through this.”
Vicki Abbott said while the family feared the worst, they had to hold onto hope Ms Shanks would be returned safely.
“I think we can still keep trying until there is nothing else we can do,” she said.
“We are still holding onto hope and it’s just that little bit of hope that is getting us by for now.
“Until then, the search continues …”
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