Shyanne-Lee Tatnell: Human remains found in bushland at Nabowla
A massive interagency operation launched to search for clues as to a missing teenager’s whereabouts has yielded a tragic outcome, with crime scenes declared. LATEST
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Tasmania Police have discovered human remains, believed to be that of missing 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell.
The remains were located on a bush track at Nabowla, west of Scottsdale, during an extensive ground and air search in relation to the disappearance of the teenager on April 30.
“It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm that remains were located late this afternoon during our extensive search. While these have not yet been forensically confirmed, they are believed to be human remains,” Northern District Commander Kate Chambers said.
“We have been in regular contact with Shyanne-Lee’s family throughout the investigative process, and have notified them about this latest development. Our thoughts continue to be with them and Shyanne-Lee’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
Commander Chambers said a crime scene had been declared at a property at Scottsdale as well as the scene near Nabowla, and extensive forensic examinations were being conducted.
“Police are following a specific line of inquiry, however, no charges have been laid at this stage,” Commander Chambers said.
“[Wednesday’s] search involved 180 people, including police search and rescue specialists, helicopter resources, mounted search and rescue volunteers, State Emergency Service volunteers, and more than 100 Tasmania Police recruits. Their support and assistance has been invaluable.”
Tasmania Police, with the assistance of NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, SES and volunteers, launched what’s believed to be Northern Tasmania’s largest police operation on Wednesday in the search for clues as to Shyanne-Lee’s whereabouts.
Police will provide a further update at noon Thursday.
July 26, 4pm: The lead investigator tasked with finding missing 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell says police will this week examine a possible “criminal element” in the teenager’s disappearance after a renewed mass search was launched.
Police say they will search a dense, 50-square-kilometre tract of bushland in the state’s North-East looking for traces of Shyanne-Lee, until at least Friday evening.
On Wednesday, agencies including Tasmania Police, the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and the SES, as well as volunteer and community organisations, launched the largest operation ever conducted in the state’s North.
The two search areas are the North Esk River, predominantly between Hobler’s Bridge and the Henry St bridge, the area from where Shyanne-Lee disappeared on the evening of April 30, and Nabowla, west of Scottsdale.
On Wednesday afternoon, Detective Inspector Andrew Hanson, the lead investigator, and Northern District Commander Kate Chambers, provided an update on the search, which involves more than 160 officers and volunteers.
“We’ve put a lot of work in to get to where we are today and we are very committed to searching the area thoroughly, so that’s what we’re going to be doing over the next couple of days,” Insp. Hanson said.
Insp. Hanson said information from the public and the results of “extensive” police inquiries had led authorities to combing the 50 sq km tract of bushland, utilising resources including ground-penetrating radar, drone searches, a specialised cadaver dog from New South Wales and horse-mounted volunteers.
Insp Hanson said previous search efforts in and around the North Esk River were exhausted.
“From the start, there has always been two elements in the investigation. Number one, that Shyanne lee disappeared in or around the North Esk River. We have already conducted extensive search and rescue operations in that area,” Insp Hanson said.
“Number two, there has always been a criminal element in this investigation. We are out there this week to explore that element.”
Insp Hanson said they would continue search efforts “as long as it takes to find Shyanne.”
He did not rule out foul play.
Insp. Hanson said the Nabowla area would be scoured until at least Friday evening.
Shyanne-Lee’s mum, Bobbi-Lee, was forewarned about the operation, Insp. Hanson said.
“I think everybody out there has a fair idea of the grief that a parent must be feeling in this situation,” he said.
He said he was “satisfied” investigators had done “everything they could” in following the leads of a series of vehicles seen driving over the Henry St bridge at the relevant time.
Northern District Commander Kate Chambers said the operation was a “search for answers”.
“It’s no doubt that it’s answers we want,” she said.
“We will not rest until we have those answers. Today is an example of the effort we are prepared to go to to find those answers.”
July 26, 10am: A mass police operation, the largest ever undertaken in Northern Tasmania, is underway to find missing Burnie teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell after leads ran cold on previous search efforts.
The 14-year-old has been missing for close to three months, last seen on the night of April 30 between 8.30 and 9pm crossing the Henry St bridge at Launceston.
There has been no sign of her since her disappearance.
On Wednesday, 160 police officers, SES personnel and volunteers commenced combing areas around the North Esk River and a 50sqkm tract of bushland near Nabowla in the state’s North East.
Police divers from Hobart with the assistance of a specialist cadaver dog from New South Wales joined the operation.
The crews departed from the Tailrace Park boat ramp around 10.45am on Wednesday. Two police drones are set to provide air support throughout the operation.
Earlier this month, a lead dried up after the hunt for a vehicle captured on CCTV bore no link to her disappearance.
“NSW Police dog handler Senior Constable Chris Hill and a five-year-old cadaver detection dog will be taking part in a search of the North Esk River today in the vicinity of where Shyanne-Lee was last seen,” Northern District Commander Kate Chambers said.
“Tasmania Police acknowledges our strong partnership with NSW Police, which is only one of two law enforcement jurisdictions in Australia with a cadaver detection capability.”
Commander Chambers said that this was the largest search operation in northern Tasmania to date, involving 20 trained search and rescue personnel, 20 State Emergency Service volunteers, helicopter resources, volunteers on horseback, motorbikes, ATVs, drones and more than 100 Tasmania Police recruits.
“We would like to acknowledge our key partners – the Australian Federal Police who are assisting us with their ground penetrating radar capability and NSW Police for the use of their specialist cadaver dog and dog handler,” he said.
Detective Acting Inspector Andrew Hanson said police were following new lines of inquiry after information was received.
“In recent weeks, we’ve successfully identified all the vehicles of interest that were captured on CCTV in the Henry Street area, travelling towards Launceston, around 9pm on 30 April when Shyanne-Lee was last seen. All drivers have now spoken to police,” Insp Hanson said.
“We’ve searched the North Esk River several times – utilising helicopters and ground search and rescue crews, with the help of volunteers on foot, horseback and ATVs.
“Our investigative team has spent considerable time scouring CCTV, interviewing witnesses, and meticulously following up every lead.
“The Tasmanian community has been fantastic and provided several important pieces of information to police. Each and every one has been thoroughly followed up.
“Our search efforts this week are as a result of our commitment to locate Shyanne-Lee and act on all information or leads. We are doing everything in our power to make that happen.”
The searches will continue for several days.
Anyone with information that would assist police to locate Shyanne-Lee or determine her movements is asked to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania.
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