Shyanne-Lee Tatnell: City Park vigil hears from mum Bobbi-Lee, grandmothers, dad
The mother of missing Launceston 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell has told a vigil held in the city that she has been writing letters to her vanished daughter.
Tasmania
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The mother of missing Launceston 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee Tatnell has told a vigil held in the city that she has been writing letters to her vanished daughter.
Shyanne-Lee has not been seen since the evening of April 30. She crossed the Henry St bridge, heading towards Ravenswood, and vanished.
On Sunday morning, about 100 crestfallen locals attended a vigil in Launceston’s City Park, where they heard in person from Shyanne-Lee’s mum, Bobbi-Lee; paternal grandmother Michelle Hubbard, who read a brief letter from Shyanne-Lee’s dad; and Acting Mayor Matthew Garwood, who read a letter from maternal grandmother Tracey Ketchell.
Bobbi-Lee told the crowd the disappearance of a child is a “parent’s worst nightmare – and I’m living it”.
Choking back tears, she revealed she had been writing letters to her daughter in her absence.
She read from a letter she authored to her daughter several weeks ago.
“Oh baby girl, it’s been 20 whole days. You’ve been missing, you’ve been on the news and in the media,” Bobbi-Lee said.
“No one can feel my heartache and the pain I feel every day without you.”
In the letter, Bobbi-Lee revealed her daughter’s disappearance was not the only tragedy that had befallen the family: her “baby brother” had died more than a decade ago.
If she was gone, little Xavier would be looking after his big sister in heaven, Bobbi-Lee said.
Shyanne-Lee’s father spoke in his letter of his heartache, too.
“You mean the world to me,” he wrote.
“You’ve always been a dad’s girl and always will.
“Please if you hear this, come home.
“We’re not a complete family without you.
“Dad’s not going to give up.
“I love you baby girl. I’m lost without you.”
Michelle, Shyanne-Lee’s “nanny,” shared more information about Shyanne-Lee’s movements on the afternoon of April 30 from the family’s perspective.
“Both myself and Shyanne’s dad spoke to her via a phone call to the shelter [where she had recently relocated to from Burnie] the afternoon she went missing,” Michelle said.
“Shyanne was laughing, happy, cracking jokes and talking about what her plans were for the week.
“She was going to the high school to talk about part-time schooling and some positive mental health appointments.
“She told us both that she loved us, as we also did to her before the call ended.”
Launceston Acting Mayor Matthew Garwood said that he “cannot imagine the uncertainty and anguish that those close to Shyanne-Lee have been feeling”.
“Personally as an expectant father – which could happen anytime between now and the next four weeks– myself to a little girl, it really is quite unimaginable,” he said.
“While we can’t remove that deep pain. I hope the fact that so many of us have gathered here today [demonstrates] that we are willing to share this weight and the burden and to continue that support.”
Locals who didn’t know the family personally nevertheless turned out to make their feelings known.
Ravenswood man Anthony Kenzie, 34, said he was there to help provide “comfort and support” to the family by taking part in a mass gesture of goodwill.
“I’ve got kids of my own [aged eight and nine]. I understand where the family is coming from. They’re devastated, heartbroken,” he said.
Tasmania Police confirmed investigations were ongoing, with investigators expecting the return of tranche of forensic analyses performed on items of possible interest later this week.
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