Bobbi-Lee Ketchell gazes out the window as the trees in her Burnie backyard turn bare. Another cold winter is settling over the northwestern town.

Wind whips against the tiny blades of grass as leaves settle on the lawn.

The 34-year-old mother-of-four has barely slept or eaten anything substantial in weeks. For Bobbi – pain and heartache are the new normal.

Her 14-year-old daughter – her only daughter – Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, is still missing after vanishing without a trace one month ago.

Shyanne, last seen crossing the Henry St bridge on Launceston’s Henry St toward Ravenswood around 8.30pm Sunday, April 30, is no closer to being found.

The “funny, outgoing and compassionate” teen absconded from a Launceston youth at risk centre on the night of her disappearance. She had not been home in two months.

Criminal Investigation Branch detectives have exhausted several avenues in their investigation, including combing the North Esk River for clues – with the possibility Shyanne’s remains would be found.

Inspector Craig Fox says chances of finding her become “slimmer and slimmer by the day”.

Several mobile phones recovered from the river bed, with silt Bobbi describes as “quicksand”, bear no forensic links to the missing teen.

Police are attempting to trace four vehicles driven in the vicinity of Shyanne’s disappearance and captured on CCTV.

Shyanne has not been active on social media or made any banking transactions since she went missing.

The case is open and active, but police have not provided a public update – or breakthrough – in the past 11 days.

Bobbi, who says “every mother’s relationship with her daughter is incredibly special”, refuses to abandon the hope that Shyanne is alive, despite “a gut feeling she is no longer with us”.

“I’m living every parent’s worst nightmare, but all I can do is pray she’s safe and comes home into my arms,” Bobbi tearfully tells the Mercury.

“I struggle to sleep because in the middle of the night, I don’t know if she’s warm enough. I go to sleep with her on my mind and wake up with her on my mind.

“Each time my phone goes off, I don’t know if it’s her or the police.”

Bobbi says two conversations she had with police were the worst.

The first was when police said they would search the North Esk River; the second was when police said her daughter may have been taken against her will.

“I have to prepare myself for the worst, if they find her dead.”

The Mercury can reveal on the night of her disappearance, Shyanne was planning to see a friend at their Ravenswood home.

There is no suggestion they had anything to do with Shyanne’s disappearance.

Bobbi spoke with Shyanne on the phone just hours before she vanished and has revealed their last heartbreaking exchange.

“We had an argument. I didn’t want her to go and see the friend. She was already in trouble at the youth at risk centre for breaking curfew. I said it wasn’t worth leaving for an hour given she was already on grounding,” she says.

“I don’t blame the centre. They were doing everything they could.

“The last thing I did was tell her I love her. She didn’t say it back. It was the last time I heard her voice.”

THE FAMILY BREAKDOWN

Bobbi admits she struggles with anxiety and depression. She says Shyanne has behavioural problems and has also suffered from depression.

Bobbi also suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, leaving her with crippling migraines and intermittent numbness down one side of her face.

The pair clashed, as many mothers and daughters do. Fights could get heated.

“The conflicts between us were getting larger,” Bobbi says.

“We couldn’t live under the same roof because our mental health issues clashed, but she would still call every day. She knows my number by heart and I just can’t understand why she hasn’t called.

“It got to the point where she wanted to go and live somewhere else. I did not kick my daughter out, we agreed to live separately to sort our own problems.”

The mother says there were other personal factors contributing to Shyanne leaving.

She says recent years had been a far cry from their relationship when Shyanne was younger.

“We were as close as you could ever imagine. We sung together, danced together,” Bobbi says.

“Shyanne is so funny, outgoing and compassionate, she has a really big heart.”

The mother is not alone in her struggle. Her sons, Shyanne’s brothers; ages 16, 10 and four, are feeling it too.

“Our youngest Samuel knows. He spoke with Shyanne every day.”

FEARS FOR THE WORST

If Shyanne was taken against her will, Bobbi believes her daughter will fight for her life.

“I have so much faith that if she is stuck somewhere and unable to leave, she is still alive and fighting,” she breaks down in tears.

“But I have a horrible gut feeling she’s not with us anymore.”

Bobbi says it is heartbreaking when family members message her saying Shyanne has been seemingly active on social media, when in fact it is CIB detectives accessing her account to see what they can find.

Bobbi turns 35 on June 12. “My only birthday wish is to have my baby girl back in my arms.”

On Sunday at 11am, a vigil will be held at Launceston’s City Park in support of Bobbi and family. Launceston Acting Mayor Matthew Garwood will MC the event, with donation tins for the SES who have assisted in search efforts. Bobbi will speak publicly at the event for the first time.