Celine Cremer: Tasmania Police and cadaver dog fail to find missing Belgian tourist’s body
A three-day intensive search using a cadaver dog has failed to find any signs of missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.
Police & Courts
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UPDATE: Monday July 31
A new search led by an interstate cadaver dog and his handler has failed to find any signs of missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.
The three-day intensive search focused around the Philosopher’s Falls area on Tasmania’s West in a bid to find the 31-year-old.
Ms Cremer was reported missing on June 26. Police found her white Honda CRV in the carpark entrance to Philosopher Falls near Waratah the following day.
Western District Commander Stuart Wilkinson said there were no signs of Ms Cremer during recent ground searches. He said the search crew navigated poor weather conditions and difficult terrain.
“While every effort was made during this latest search, sadly, Celine remains missing,” he said.
“The searchers faced extremely poor weather conditions, and every effort was made to try and locate her.
“When a person remains missing, the case is never closed. We will continue to follow up any new information we receive in relation to Celine’s disappearance so we can provide closure to her family, and our thoughts remain with them and Celine’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
Police have ruled out foul play in the tourist’s disappearance.
UPDATE: Sunday July 30
An interstate cadaver dog is again on search today for missing Belgian tourist, Celine Cremer.
The New South Wales dog, which was brought to Tasmania to find missing teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, has now been repurposed to help in the search for Ms Cremer.
The 31-year-old woman was reported missing on June 26, with her white Honda CRV found in the carpark entrance to Philosopher Falls near Waratah the following day.
Police and the State Emergency Service have this weekend been conducting further searches in a “revised area of interest” at the falls, after receiving new information about Ms Cremer’s last mobile phone activity.
On Sunday morning, Tasmania Police reported weather conditions during the search had been challenging, with strong winds and rain.
At this stage, no trace of Ms Cremer has been located.
Police have ruled out foul play in the tourist’s disappearance.
Wags the dog, who is today searching for Ms Cremer, is understood to be from only two jurisdictions in Australia that has cadaver dogs.
EARLIER: The interstate police cadaver dog used in the search for missing teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell is this weekend searching “treacherous” terrain to try to get closure for the family of a Belgian tourist missing for several weeks.
Celine Cremer, 31, was reported missing on June 26 and her white Honda CRV was found in the carpark entrance to the Philosopher Falls walking track at Waratah in the North-West and police believe it may have been there from June 17.
Police have ruled out foul play in Ms Cremer’s disappearance.
Inspector Anthea Maingay said police recently received further information in relation to Ms Cremer’s mobile phone activity and New South Wales police had agreed to let the dog used in the search for Shyanne-Lee, help them.
“New information suggests that she was in this new search area, every piece of information we have today places here in that area of Philosopher Falls,” she said.
“There are a number of theories of how she may have had an accident or perhaps she’s become separated from her telephone during the walk for whatever reason.
“Maybe it’s fallen out of her pocket but having been there myself several times, where you go today for phone reception, it’s not necessarily where you will get it tomorrow. So the reception in that area is quite challenging.”
The terrain about 500m from the initial search area, she said, could also only be accessed by searchers with special skills.
“It’s a very beautiful area but it is very treacherous,” Insp Maingay said.
“It does involve quite steep inclines and the ground surface is what you would best describe as moving because the twigs land on the ground and (if) someone stands on it you will move with it.
“It is quite treacherous to search.”
The dog, his handler and one other person is conducting this weekend’s search after 30 police and state emergency service personnel searched the area last weekend.
Insp Maingay said she remains hopeful “we get an outcome for the family”.
“The family are obviously quite upset about what has occurred, as you would expect, but they’re very appreciative of the search efforts to date and the information that they’re receiving,” she said.
“Our investigation will continue and we will prepare a report for the coroner.”
Insp Maingay said she was aware of only two jurisdictions in Australia that had cadaver dogs.
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