Police offer $1m reward for information on missing schoolgirl Cherie Westell

A Melbourne foster mother has joined Victoria Police in a renewed plea to help track down Cherie Westell 22 years after the teenager’s suspicious disappearance.

Cherie Westell at age 12.

The foster family of missing Melbourne schoolgirl Cherie Westell, thought to have been murdered 22 years ago, has revived calls for information about the suspicious disappearance as Victoria Police boosts the search for answers with a $1m reward.

Cherie Westell was days away from her 16th birthday when she disappeared in Melbourne’s outer-east on December 12, 2000.

The 15-year-old was last seen when she was dropped off for a dental appointment in Wantirna South, later phoning a family member from a public phone box to say she was going to catch a train home to Ringwood.

Cherie was a ward of the state at the time, battling with a need for independence from her foster mother Frances Schultz, who had cared for the teenager and her siblings since 1990.

When Cherie didn’t return home, Ms Schultz attempted to make a police report but was told a biological family member was required to make the request.

The last phtoograph taken of Cherie Westell before her disappearance in 2000.

Police say a missing-person report was not filed until five days later.

An inquest in 2003 concluded that Cherie had most likely died, with police determining that she was likely met with foul play.

As Ms Schultz joined police in their calls for information on Wednesday morning, she remembered Cherie as a “stubborn, feisty, kind” young girl, who was “very interested in everything that went on around her”.

“Cherie and her siblings came into my life in July 1990. Cherie was five years old – a very withdrawn and sad little girl. For the next nine years, I watched Cherie develop into a young woman with many interests – horse riding, sport, music and poetry – she loved the works of the singer, Jewel,” she said.

Ms Schultz said around the age of 14, Cherie had become “very confused about where she stood” in relation to her foster mother and her birth mother, who was still alive.

“Things became quite tense between the two of us”, Ms Schultz said, explaining that Cherie had moved out, but remained close with the foster family.

Having kept in touch with the teenager until the day of her disappearance, Ms Schultz said the idea that she might have run away was “completely out of character”.

“She’d written Christmas cards for us all … she’d written a Christmas list,” Cherie’s foster sister Marg said in support.

“She wasn’t a runaway.”

Cherie, who enjoyed holidays with her foster family in Gippsland Lakes, was also excited to begin studying at Swinburne TAFE, and had future ambitions to become a member of Victoria Police, Ms Schultz said.

“Like her foster sister,” she said.

The Missing Persons Squad has announced the $1m reward 22 years on from Cherie Westell’s disappearance.

Detective Acting Inspector Tony Combridge called the mystery the “worst-case scenario” as the Missing Persons Squad announced the $1m reward 22 years on from Cherie’s disappearance.

“It is every family’s worst nightmare,” he said.

“Those responsible for Cherie’s disappearance have had to live with this secret for over two decades – 22 years is a very long time to be looking over your shoulder.”

Inspector Combridge said numerous suspects were of interest to police, but further information was required.

“The smallest bit of information might be just what we need,” he said as he encouraged the public, hoping the lengthy gap may result in some answers.

“Friendships fall apart … allegiances change” in 22 years, he said.

“We’re coming. Someone will speak to us and we will find you.”