Murdered schoolgirl’s mother pleas for help: ‘She didn’t deserve this’

THE mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer has publicly spoken for the first time about her daughter’s death.

TWAM-20160227 EMBARGO FOR TWAM 27 Feb 2016 Tiahleigh Palmer Pic : supplied

THE mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer has made a desperate public appeal for information about her daughter’s death and expressed concerns about her killer still being on the loose.

Twelve-year-old Tiahleigh’s badly decomposed body was found by fishermen on a riverbank at Pimpama on the Gold Coast — 40km from where she was dropped off by a foster carer at Marsden State High School — on November 5 last year.

No arrests have been made in relation to the murder.

Cindy Palmer spoke to media for the first time since her daughter’s death in a press conference Monday afternoon.

Tiahleigh Palmer was found murdered, aged 12, on November 5, 2015.

Police are offering a $250,000 reward and indemnity for the first person to come forward with information that solves the case of the Logan schoolgirl.

She said she had decided to speak out because she wanted to know what happened to her daughter and to prevent another family or “poor, innocent child” from going through the same thing.

“We’re appealing for anyone who knows what happened to Tiahleigh to come forward,” Ms Palmer said.

“(It’s hard) knowing this could happen to another family and at any time while the person responsible is still out there.

“We definitely do need answers.

“She didn’t deserve (this).”

Tiahleigh Palmer.

Ms Palmer said she was tormented by not knowing what happened to Tiahleigh.

“It’s her birthday soon and she’s not even going to be able to be a teenager,” Ms Palmer said.

“Tiahleigh was a loveable girl, always loved mucking around.

“She loved dancing and couldn’t do cartwheels but tried hard.”

The last known sighting of Tiahleigh was at Marsden High School, where she was dropped off about 8.10am on October 30. She never made it inside.

Her body was thought to have been in the water for up to a week, fuelling police speculation she may have been killed the day she disappeared.

Police divers resume search for clues along Pimpama River where the body of 12-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer was found, Pimpama, Gold Coast. Picture: Regi Varghese

Her muddy shoe was found in the river her body was recovered from in December but her school uniform and distinctive purple Mambo backpack are still missing.

The shoe worn by Logan schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer was found in the Pimpama River.

A post-mortem examination was unable to determine a cause of death with results of forensics tests not yet made publicly available.

Police suspect Tiahleigh could have made plans to meet someone on the day she disappeared.

Detective Superintendent Dave Hutchinson on Monday said there were fears the killer could strike again.

“We hope the person or people responsible can’t do this to another family or poor, innocent child,” Supt Hutchinson said.

“The person or people who (killed Tiahleigh) should know we’re not giving in.

“We have a team of detectives dedicated to finding out what happened so (the person[s] responsible) should never feel at ease”.

Supt Hutchinson said police had interviewed hundreds of people and that some knew more than they were letting on.

“We have spoken to people that we believe have more information than what their telling us,” he said.

“We’re reasonably confident that we have spoken with people who have information about what occurred to Tia at that time.”

Cindy Palmer, mother of Tialeigh Palmer, made a public appeal for information as police continue to hunt for her 12-year-old daughter's killer.

Supt Hutchinson wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not police had any suspects.

“We have many positive lines of inquiries,” he said.

Police last month announced a $250,000 reward for information and indemnity from prosecution.

Supt Hutchinson said there had been a “reasonable response” but the reward was still on offer.

“For whatever reason they’re not coming forward with that information, the information we want,” he said.

“That might be through fear, it might be through loyalty or it might be through their own involvement in it.”

Police said the offer was only available to one person, suggesting several people are believed to know something about Tiahleigh’s death.

The offer of a reward comes relatively early. It usually happens much later in a homicide inquiry.

CCTV footage has also been released showing Tiahleigh at her school the day before she disappeared. It is the last known images of her alive.

Detectives continue to appeal for any information.

Anyone with information should call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.