DNA tests conducted on human bones linked to missing Adelaide grandmother Annapuranee Jenkins

Two and a half years after going missing in Malaysia, DNA testing on remains found in a $107m housing development may hold the key to the disappearance of an Adelaide grandmother.

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The family of a missing Adelaide grandmother is awaiting DNA results they hope will finally provide the breakthrough into her disappearance in Malaysia more than 2 ½ years ago.

Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins, 65, was visiting her sick elderly mother when she vanished in mysterious circumstances in suburban George Town, Penang Island, on December 13, 2017.

Now her family is potentially days away from closure just weeks since they were alerted to the discovery of human remains and possessions on a multi-million-dollar development site.

Mrs Jenkins’ son, whose job prevents him being identified, has made a mercy dash to Malaysia after obtaining a permit to enter the country on compassionate grounds.

He was required to isolate for 14 days on arrival in accordance with coronavirus restrictions and on Wednesday provided a DNA sample to Royal Malaysian Police.

Annapuranee Jenkins with husband Frank Jenkins in Penang the day before she disappeared on December 13, 2017. Picture: Supplied

“If we get the DNA back from the bones that’s the first bit of closure and then we can start looking at death certificates so we can start moving forward,” the son said.

“If they are mum’s bones, police will do a dig and potentially find more bones and from that I hope you would be able to get an indication of how she ended up there.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster for the entire family. While I’m forging ahead over here, (sister) Jen is back home dealing with dad’s emotions.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed and it hinges on the DNA. We’re putting all our faith in Malaysian authorities.”

The forensic testing was made possible after Mrs Jenkins’ family received photographic evidence of belongings and bones found on the site of a $107m exclusive villa development.

A concerned local, who tracked down the family in June through missing persons posters, had made the discovery in March but came forward when police failed to act on the information.

Crucial circumstantial evidence included a blue top Mrs Jenkins was captured wearing by a security camera outside Hotel Jen, where she was staying, on the day she went missing.

Hotel Jen in Penang, Malaysia, where Annapuranee Jenkins was staying before she disappeared on December 13, 2017. Picture: Supplied

A Hotel Jen keycard found among the items on a Penang construction site was matched to the room where Annapuranee Jenkins was staying. Picture: Supplied

A hotel keycard – later matched to Mrs Jenkins’ room – dental appointment card and Australian and Malaysian currency were also found at the construction site.

But Mrs Jenkins’ son said police had since lost some items, including the dental card and money, and failed to uncover further crucial evidence.

“I went out to the site with police … probably two minutes later I found stuff they had missed,” the son said.

“I found a shoe that matched one of the shoes that mum was possibly wearing, I found a massage card and stuff that had potentially fallen out of a handbag including chewing gum.”

The son said he also found appointment cards for a reflexologist 250m from his mum’s hotel.

“I asked police if they had dug up the construction site and they said no because they needed proper paperwork so I asked them if they had done the paperwork and they said no,” he said.

“You can submit to the DPP to dig up private land but that has not been done and police won’t do it until they match my DNA with mum’s bones.

“This could be mum but it also possibly could be someone’s relative. Why wouldn’t you put in a request to dig up more evidence to try to work out who this person is?”

A shoe believed to belong to Annapuranee Jenkins was found by her son near a construction site in Penang, Malaysia. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Jenkins, of Glenelg South, caught an Uber after her dental appointment – the same surgery she had visited since 2012 – to Little Sisters of the Poor aged-care home.

But the driver told police Mrs Jenkins requested he stop at the intersection of Scotland Rd and York Rd, Scotland Gardens, about 4km from her original destination.

The driver said he pulled over 100m down the road at Ramakrishna Ashram orphanage, where Mrs Jenkins got out. It was her last known location.

Husband Frank Jenkins, 78, twice visited the aged-care home, where staff told him they had not seen his wife. He reported her disappearance to police.

Mrs Jenkins’ family has made numerous mercy dashes to Malaysia in a desperate search for their mum but say they have been hindered by inaction from authorities.

Her son said police told him they wanted to start afresh with the investigation and “forget everything that’s happened before” – but he remains frustrated.

He said police would release the bones and possessions if the DNA results provided a match.

“We were told to understand that it’s a major money development for Penang and we said we fully understood but that we don’t care if it’s a $1 or $107m investment,” he said.

“We can’t put a price on mum’s life and we don’t care if the developer loses money if it means we can get answers.

“Everyone in our extended family is chomping at the bit for answers. We get something positive and then you deal with the ebbs and flows of Malaysian authorities.”

Security camera footage of Annapuranee Jenkins outside Hotel Jen in Penang, Malaysia, about 2.45pm on December 13, 2017. Her husband Frank Jenkins, far left, watches on.

Originally published as DNA tests conducted on human bones linked to missing Adelaide grandmother Annapuranee Jenkins