Alana Cecil case: Detectives to review original investigation and coronial inquest finding

Police have launched a review into the death of 16-year-old Alana Cecil whose body was dumped in a driveway of a vacant property in 1996.

Alana Cecil was found dead outside a Melton home in 1996.

Police have revealed they are reviewing the death of a teenage girl found dead outside a Melton home 29 years ago.

The body of Alana Cecil was discovered outside a Melton house on November 10, 1996.

A Coroner later ruled the 16-year-old had died from heroin toxicity with acute asthma.

“Local detectives will review the original investigation and the coronial inquest finding, to determine whether there are any new avenues of inquiry,” a Victoria Police statement said.

They have asked for anyone who can help to come forward, particularly a person who previously supplied information anonymously.

Alana was given a lethal dose of heroin in each of her arms by her killer or killers early on November 10.

Her body was then dumped in the back driveway of vacant property.

The recently turned 16-year-old had left her family home the previous night intending to attend the Djerriwarrh Bonfire festival in Melton, north of Melbourne.

A DNA breakthrough years after her death identified semen from two men.

One of the samples matched a 49-year-old man known to police.

Neither man was charged.

Alana’s belongings with her when she left her home were never found.

An autopsy report showed that Alana had not had drugs for three months before her death having been through rehab.

There were two coronial inquiries into her death, which determined Alana’s cause of death was heroin toxicity.

She also had acute asthma.

Her case was explored by New Zealander Ryan Wolf in his podcast titled Guilt – The Night of the Bonfire.

Anyone with information about the matter is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.