Bendigo student jogger ‘staying strong’ as ‘hermit’ faces charges

THE family of a Bendigo university student who vanished during an afternoon run are in awe of her bravery during a 24-hour ordeal in which she went missing without trace.

The One Tree Hill lookout. Picture: David Crosling

THE family of a Bendigo university student who vanished during an afternoon run are in awe of her bravery during a 24-hour ordeal in which she went missing without trace.

The Herald Sun has been told the 18-year-old woman’s smarts in the face of the terrifying experience were a key factor in her escaping without any physical harm.

She has also shown incredible resolve since being found in a car some 13km from where she went missing during a run on Wednesday afternoon.

FROM ‘GOD’S COUNTRY’ TO CRIME SCENE

SERIOUS CHARGES OVER STUDENT’S HORROR ORDEAL

The woman’s parents, who had been in Europe, have arrived home to be at their daughter’s side.

Today her distraught parents released a statement describing their daughter as an “inspirational young person’’ and the relief they felt when she was found alive as they hoped from the other side of the world for a breakthrough.

“As parents, it was indescribable relief on hearing that our daughter had been located alive and was being well cared for in Bendigo hospital.

“Having closely monitored the search effort from London where we had been travelling, our only focus was on a reunion with our daughter.

“Getting out of the UK in the August holiday season proved very difficult at short notice and the efforts of Qantas staff to support our emergency travel was exemplary.

“We are also full of praise for Victoria Police including the Air Wing, Parks Victoria and SES personnel who worked tirelessly for more than 24 hours to search for our daughter.

“The efforts of all these individuals was amazing and our family is deeply indebted to these locals for their commitment and professionalism.

“We’d like to specifically mention Inspector Michael Talbot who controlled the SES search, and Senior Sergeant Rod Stewart and Sergeants Jason Hawke, Luke Kinder and Ben O’Regan from Bendigo Police, who we had personal contact with from London during the search.

“These guys were solid operators and we could not have asked for better insight into what was happening with our daughter from the other side of the world.’’

“As a father and a retired Army Colonel and volunteer NSW rural bush firefighter, it had been greatly reassuring to have the Victorian CFA and Army reserve units mobilised in support of local authorities.

“Our family was greatly appreciative of the increased assets on the ground and although we are unwilling to single out individuals for mention, we are grateful to senior figures in the ADF and CFA who quietly assisted the effort to quickly develop contingency assets for the search.

“Even though our daughter was eventually located outside the park, we were very cognisant that alternative enquiries to find our daughter would not fully gear up until the park had been comprehensively searched.

“We would like to thank hospital staff at Bendigo and the female police who assisted our daughter after her recovery and our family is also effusive in its praise of La Trobe University.

“While we were stuck in the UK, the rest of our family and friends were incredibly well supported and looked after by the University.

“From accommodation and food, to coordination rooms and pastoral care, the University could not have done more to assist during this incredibly difficult time. ``It is reassuring to know that our daughter is studying in such a robust environment and we have no doubt she will be extremely well supported in her return to her studies.

“We are now in Bendigo to support our daughter’s recovery. We are surrounded by a contingent of family and friends who have travelled from Queensland, Sydney, Gundaroo, Canberra and Albury.

“It is our expectation that our family’s, in particular our daughter’s, privacy will be respected by the media from here on. However we have elected to come out and publicly thank everyone who contributed to the crisis our family has experienced.

“We have cried tears of distress and tears of joy and the ordeal will be ongoing as authorities now follow the appropriate judicial processes. This horrendous experience has made our family stronger. Our daughter is an inspirational young person and her friends exemplify a level of integrity and sincerity for which any community would be rightfully proud.’’

The man arrested in relation to the vanishing, Daniel Reimers, 38, has been described as a “mathematical genius’’ and loner.

It is believed he has been placed in solitary confinement as he awaits his next court hearing.

The Herald Sun is prohibited from detailing the serious offences he is facing or from publishing a photograph of him.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.