Simone Quinlan murder case: Father Wayne in public plea before grim find in hunt for daughter
THE father of murdered mother Simone Quinlan will today make the harrowing journey to identify remains found in a police search for her body.
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THE heartbroken father of murdered mother Simone Quinlan will today make the harrowing journey to identify remains found in a police search for her body.
Wayne Quinlan told the Herald Sun last night his family was trying to stay strong as police found human remains in the area where they believe her body had been dumped.
“The police were not able to say it was definitely my girl,” he said.
“But we have accepted there is a possibility it’s going to be Simone.”
Mr Quinlan said he didn’t want to wait up to seven days for DNA tests to confirm it was his daughter.
“I have asked the police if I can come and see her,” he said.
“To me, it’s something I need to do. I need to see for myself.”
Before remains were found at the search site in Kangaroo Flat, near Bendigo, Mr Quinlan said it was hard to accept that Simone, the mother of their two grandchildren, had been murdered.
“I just want my girl home,” Mr Quinlan said.
“I don’t even want to imagine what could’ve happened to her.
Exclusion zone set up as police search park
Ms Quinlan, 33, from Melton in Melbourne’s western suburbs, was reported missing on September 13.
She was last known to be alive on August 24 when she was captured on CCTV buying soft drinks at a Melton service station.
Police allege she was murdered the following day in Bacchus Marsh.
Speaking at the crime scene this morning, Missing Person Squad Detective Inspector Jill Dyson said police believed the remains were of Ms Quinlan.
She said searchers located “some items of interest” about midday yesterday which were last night identified as human remains and further testing overnight revealed they were female.
“We believe at this stage those remains are of Simone Quinlan,” Det-Insp Dyson said.
“Missing persons are complex investigations; they are also very heartbreaking for the family as they want answers.
“We are pleased to be able to provide some of those answers to the family of Simone and more as the investigation progresses.”
Det-Insp Dyson said a post mortem being conducted today would help to give detectives insight into how Ms Quinlan was allegedly murdered.
She said an extensive search of the area would continue today.
“We’re still investigating the scene so I can’t comment on exactly what has been found at this stage,” she said. “Today they are going to search the remainder of the crime scene. There are many mine shafts. We have search and rescue assisting with entering those mine shafts and searching for evidence.”
Mr Quinlan, 58, said it would mean “everything” to be able to give his daughter, who he affectionately called “Possum” as she grew up, the burial she deserved.
It would give her two children, Tyler, 12, and Phoenix, 5, somewhere to go to pay their respects, he said.
Yesterday, he recalled fun-filled family camping trips with his daughter and the joy on her face when he brought a pony home for her to ride in their suburban backyard.
On her 18th birthday, she squealed with joy when she came home to find he had filled her bedroom with balloons and her present was hidden somewhere inside.
“Simone has brought our family so much joy in our life,” he said.
Mr Quinlan admitted his daughter had struggled with a drug problem for “a number of years” but wanted her to be remembered as someone who loved life and her children.
Three men — Brendan Neil, 28, Dylan Jez, 23, and Wayne Marmo, 24 — have been charged with Ms Quinlan’s murder.
They have been remanded in custody to face court in February.
Anyone with information about Ms Quinlan’s disappearance is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.