Police look to abduction links
Paige Taylor - The Australian
September 21, 2005
POLICE are investigating possible links between two men accused of abducting a Perth boy and keeping him captive for 20 days and the baffling disappearance of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe.

West Australian detectives have been sharing information about Blake Reynolds' case - and the background of the men accused of kidnapping him - with Queensland detectives investigating the 2003 disappearance of Daniel.

They are also revisiting the unsolved murder of 11-year-old Gerard Ross, whose body was found south of Perth two weeks after he went missing in 1997.

Blake, 14, was at home with his family yesterday after a dramatic police rescue on Monday afternoon.

Two men, aged 41 and 44, appeared briefly in the Armadale Magistrates Court yesterday, charged with one count each of depriving Blake of his liberty.

Neither man was required to enter a plea and they were remanded in custody to reappear on October 11.

Detective Sergeant David Bryson, from Western Australia's major crime squad, said his officers were sharing information about Blake's alleged kidnappers because there were similarities with other cases.

It was extremely unlikely that the cases were linked but the intelligence gathered during the investigation could prove helpful to police working on the baffling case.

Daniel, 13, is thought to have been abducted while waiting for a bus on Nambour Connection Road at Woombye on Sunday, December 7, 2003.

Blake disappeared on August 30 near Kelmscott train station.

Sergeant Bryson said police could not rule out the possibility that the cases might be linked.

"We have been liaising with (Queensland police) and we will continue to do so just in the hope that some of the information and intelligence we have gathered may be of assistance in their operation," he said.

"Who knows where these two guys were two years ago."

Blake's mother Gail Reynolds fronted the media yesterday for what she said would be the last time.

Mrs Reynolds said she had not asked her son about what happened during his ordeal.

"He said words to the effect that he was famous but it was an awful way to get famous," Mrs Reynolds said. "I think I will just wait for him to talk to me."

While he was held captive Blake had seen a television report which featured his mother crying and pleading for his safe return.

Mrs Reynolds said her son was happy and coping well.

"We are very relieved he is back and he is quite chirpy. He seems to be coping quite well at this stage," she said.

"He's not very strong by nature, but I think I have underestimated him. He has come back to us a lot better than I expected.

"He did comment that he saw me crying on TV."

Forensics experts spent yesterday at the ramshackled house where Blake was found after a tipoff.

The property - where it will be alleged Blake was kept for the duration of his ordeal - is on a busy highway, next to a dental surgery and opposite a row of fast-food outlets.

But staff who spoke to The Australian yesterday said they had never seen anybody leave or enter the house.

QUEENSLAND police have ruled out a link between the kidnapping of Perth teenager Blake Reynolds and the disappearance of Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe.

On Monday afternoon police officers swooped on a rundown house in south-east Perth, freeing 14-year-old Blake, who had been there for 20 days, and charged two men with deprivation of liberty. A Queensland Police spokeswoman today said police in WA had spoken to officers investigating the disappearance of Daniel. "WA police are aware of Daniel and would be looking for any connection," she said.
"But at this stage there is absolutely nothing to indicate they are linked at all."

Daniel has been missing since December 7, 2003.
The then 13-year-old was last seen on the Nambour Connection Road at Palmwoods waiting for a bus.

Daniel's brothers tell of their pain
Louise Crossen - The Courier Mail
28sep05
THE brothers of missing Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe have spoken publicly about his disappearance for the first time – revealing the nightmares and heartache since he vanished almost two years ago.

Daniel's twin Brad and older brother Dean appeared in a new, locally produced investigative series, Crime Investigation Australia, which airs tonight on Foxtel.

Dean Morcombe said he still had nightmares about his younger brother's abduction.

"From here to under the bridge where he went . . . there's a steep part off the road," Dean said. "I dreamt once that he might have fallen down there. But the SES have looked . . ."

For Dean and his family, the nightmare never ends.

"You just can't imagine it ever happening," he said. "But it did one day and you've just got to put up with it."

When asked what he missed most about Daniel, twin brother Brad simply hung his head.

"Just him being around . . . we were good friends . . . he always helped me with my school work and everything. It's different. Catching the bus by myself and everything.

"Mum and Dad get sad sometimes – everything reminds them of him."

Almost two years since their son disappeared, Denise and Bruce Morcombe have no more tears. Mrs Morcombe admits she is often consumed by anger towards the people who took her son away – anger she keeps bottled up inside.

"I know the day they do find these people they won't be able to stop me. They won't let me near them," she said.


– Anyone with information about Daniel should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Morcombe family offer help
From: AAP
September 22, 2005

THE parents of missing Queensland teenager Daniel Morcombe are preparing to help the family of another abducted teen, who was rescued by police after three weeks.

Daniel, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, disappeared in December 2003 while out Christmas shopping.
He was 13 at the time, and although his body has never been found, police believe he was abducted and murdered.

Yesterday Queensland police ruled out a link between his disappearance and the kidnapping of Perth teenager Blake Edwards.

Fourteen-year-old Blake was held in a rundown house in south-east Perth for 20 days until Monday, when Western Australian police freed him.

Police have charged two men with deprivation of liberty.

Meanwhile, Daniel's mother Denise said her family - through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation set up to help victims of crime - wanted to help Blake.
She said she may try to contact him in a couple of months.

The Morcombe family is also planning a child safety awareness day, to take place in Queensland schools in November.

New clues surface
Matthew Fynes-Clinton - The Courier Mail
June 24, 2006

DO you recognise the face in these pictures? (see comfits above)

Police believe either of the computer-generated images, released exclusively to The Courier-Mail, could show the man who abducted missing 13-year-old Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe.

The composite photographs were assembled from descriptions given by witnesses who saw a suspicious man and a blue car around Woombye State School in the 10 weeks before Daniel's disappearance from nearby Nambour Connection Rd on December 7, 2003.

Today's Qweekend reveals the agonising stories of some of these witnesses. All are mothers who noticed the man and the parked car on different afternoons as they arrived at the school to pick up their children.

The women were not familiar with the car or its driver, who appeared to be "scanning" children as they walked from the school grounds. The man would always leave the area without collecting children.

But of the more than six mothers who observed the man and the car, nobody reported their suspicions to police until months after Daniel's abduction. While one woman did write down the registration number of the blue car, she lost it.

In Qweekend, three of the mothers express their grief and guilt. They believe that had they alerted police to the man and the car at the time of the school sightings, Daniel's abduction – and presumed murder – may have been prevented.

"I have to live with it every day," said one.

State Homicide head Detective Superintendent Mike Condon says the car and the man described by the Woombye mothers is "consistent" with descriptions from other witnesses of a man and a blue car seen with Daniel under the Kiel Mountain Road overpass, 100km north of Brisbane, on the day he vanished.

In November 2004, police released artist's impressions of the man, based on what witnesses saw beneath the overpass.

The latest composite pictures, highlighting the man's sunken cheeks and weathered complexion, are the result of separate descriptions by two of the Woombye mothers. Supt Condon said the decision not to publicise these images earlier was part of an "investigative strategy". The Morcombe case, dubbed Operation Vista, is the biggest probe undertaken by Queensland police.

Thousands of hours have been logged and 10 detectives are still permanently on the case.

"It eats away at us that we can't solve it," Supt Condon said.

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000

Missing boy's family launches safety DVD
October 19, 2006 - The Australian

THE family of missing Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe will launch a child safety DVD, in which Steve Irwin was supposed to appear, at Australia Zoo tomorrow.

Before his death early last month, the Crocodile Hunter had agreed to appear in the DVD.

Daniel's mother Denise, who with her husband Bruce founded the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, said Irwin was a "passionate family man and communicator".

"Preparations were taking place for Steve and (his wife) Terri to be filmed for a contribution on the foundation's DVD," she said.

"Steve's energy and personality will be greatly missed."

Daniel, 13, disappeared as he waited for a bus on the Nambour Connection Road at Palmwoods on December 7, 2003.

The Morcombe Foundation's DVD release coincides with the start of national Children's Week, which federal Families Minister Mal Brough will officially launch at the zoo tomorrow.

The DVD includes messages from Mr and Mrs Morcombe, as well as Daniel's twin Bradley and older brother Dean about the importance of looking after children.

"Our intention is never to frighten children and stop them to be trusting, but rather we need them to be aware of their surroundings and to trust their natural instincts," Mr Morcombe said.

A range of activities and events will be held across Australia as part of Children's Week which focus on care, health, education, fitness and cultural programs

An Australia Zoo spokeswoman said it was unknown whether Terri Irwin or her daughter Bindi would attend the launch.

School marks missing boy's graduation
November 17, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP - Daily Telegraph

DANIEL Morcombe might have joined scores of other teenagers heading to Schoolies week today on the eve of what would have been his high school graduation.

Daniel was 13 when he was abducted while waiting at a bus stop on a highway near his home in Sunshine Coast hinterland on December 7, 2003.

Despite a massive media appeal that has lasted three years, police have never solved his disappearance.

Today he would have graduated from Year 12.

Siena Catholic College principal Graeme Hight said today had been one of celebration and sadness as Year 12 students remembered their classmate.

Students from what would have been Daniel's graduating class wore red ribbons and on a procession through the school to mark their graduation they stopped off to pay their respects at "Daniel's chair" - a special timber bench at the school dedicated to him.

"I was just quite stunned," Mr Hight said.

"All 134 kids just walked straight towards it, not a word, this is after coming out of a yahoo, hallelujah assembly.

"For the kids it's wonderful, they're finished and everything like that but they were quite keen to take the time to stop and reflect on that Daniel should have been here as well.

"It did cut a few of the kids deep and some of the girls walked away in tears from it all."

Mr Hight said Daniel's parents Denise and Bruce had been invited to the graduation but declined because they said it would have been too difficult.

Daniel's twin brother Brad has already left school for full-time work.

Missing boy may have pedophile 'pet name'By Rosemary Desmond
December 07, 2006 05:29pm
Article from: AAP

POLICE are investigating reports a pedophile ring has dubbed missing Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe as "Christmas cake".

On the third anniversary of Daniel's disappearance, his grieving father Bruce Morcombe said today he had received information a few days ago that Daniel had been given the name by the pedophile ring.

"Somebody has suggested that Daniel's pet pedophile name within a ring was 'Christmas cake'," Mr Morcombe said.

"To call somebody Christmas Cake is just so bizarre.

"We dread the thought that plays on the mind that perhaps a conversation between two pedophiles was along the lines of 'have you enjoyed your Christmas cake this year?' or something similar to that and it's a thought that just revolts you – the implications of that."

Daniel, 13, was last seen waiting at a bus stop near his family home at Palmwoods in the Sunshine Coast hinterland on December 7, 2003.

Police believe he was abducted and murdered.

Mr Morcombe said the family would never let his son's disappearance become a cold case and appealed for the person responsible to come forward.

The heartbroken father has left a sign at the bus stop asking motorists several questions, including whether they had seen "Christmas Cake", Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Schmidt of Maroochydore CIB said.

But he denied the information was being classed as a new lead.

"That's information that was passed onto Bruce and he's passed it onto us," Det Snr Sgt Schmidt said.

"At this stage, the information is very much unproven and is more like innuendo and rumour.

"Obviously, we'll investigate it the best we can.

"But unfortunately, his (Mr Morcombe's) source of information is not very well informed."

The informant was known to police and was unreliable, he said.

Around seven detectives were still working on the case, although the number fluctuated from time to time, he said.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe say they are selling their Sunshine Coast acreage property at Palmwoods because it had become too big for the family.

Their oldest son Dean, 19, has left home and Daniel's twin brother Bradley will turn 17 next week.

But the Morcombes will stay in the Sunshine Coast area and buy another house between Palmwoods and Maroochydore.

"We'll live here – we can't leave Daniel up here," Mrs Morcombe said.

Door remains open for son Glenis Green
December 07, 2006 11:00pm

AN angry Bruce Morcombe yesterday used the third anniversary of his teenage son's disappearance to pose a series of shocking and cryptic questions to those responsible for Daniel's abduction.

The six questions, handwritten on the side of a door, revealed for the first time the family's belief that Daniel, 13, had been taken by pedophiles who had given him the nickname "Christmas cake" and that his remains might be in a drum buried in scrub next to a new housing estate.

The questions also raised the theory, for the first time, that the Sunshine Coast schoolboy might have been drugged while in a car, that he was alive for some time after his abduction and that he could have been with someone's sister.

"These questions are purposely targeted to somebody that specifically knows the answer or that can relate to someone talking about something specifically on those very pointed questions," Mr Morcombe said.

"We're really appealing for somebody that knows something, whether anonymously or however – (to) post a note, forward a note, scribble a note, tell somebody else . . . we don't care if it's anonymously. We're after Daniel, not specifically the person that did it at this stage."

Mr Morcombe said he had been prompted to put the questions in the public arena after the family received certain private information from members of the community.

"Everything we receive we forward to police," he said. "Much of it police already had – but some information we received paired up separately to what police also have."

Mr Morcombe said his door message was brief "and perhaps a little cryptic".

"Clearly we want this person caught, but we can't damage a potential trial further down the track so we have to be particularly cautious about what we say," he said.

Mr Morcombe said not a day went by when he and his wife Denise did not think about Daniel, especially as his twin brother Bradley reached life's milestones.

"It's great that we enjoy Bradley growing up but it's particularly cutting to have a smile for one boy and heartache for someone else," he said.

Officer in charge of the Maroochydore CIB, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Schmidt, said police still worked on the Morcombe investigation every day and had conducted up to 20,000 interviews.

" I know it's been three years but that one phone call, that one little bit of information, might be the key we're looking for," he said. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.

Mr Morcombe's door, which represents the way to break open the case, has been placed next to Daniel's memorial plinth on the spot he went missing on December 7, 2003, beneath the Keil Mountain Rd overpass on the Nambour Connection Rd.

Pedophile network in the know Glenis Green
December 08, 2006 11:00pm

POLICE investigating the disappearance of Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe have been buoyed by another spike in public information following fresh appeals on Thursday.

Senior Sergeant Julie Elliott said father Bruce Morcombe's questions about 13-year-old Daniel's abduction and suspected murder three years ago had prompted "a significant number" of phone calls to Crime Stoppers overnight and yesterday and the information was being checked by police.

Officer in charge of the Maroochydore CIB, Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Schmidt, said that up to 20,000 pieces of information had been received from the public since Daniel vanished on December 7, 2003.

Mr Morcombe used the three-year anniversary to reveal the family's shocking belief that his son had been referred to by the pet name "Christmas cake" by a pedophile network which knew what had happened to him and he appealed for someone to come forward and help solve the crime.

North Coast Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Inspector John Maloney said that Daniel's case was still of the highest priority and his disappearance would continue to be investigated.

"The response from the public has been unprecedented and that, combined with the tireless work of police, will help us find those responsible," he said.

"While we are yet to get the final breakthrough on Daniel's case, we have methodically built up a massive amount of information and intelligence.

"We have had a number of people of interest in our sights and I want to make it clear we will not be stopping this investigation and the team working on this case is as determined today as it was three years ago."

Insp Maloney said someone was "sitting" on information which would bring the case to a close.

"I urge that person to make contact and help the Morcombe family cope with the burden they carry every day."

Information can be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Grieving family moves By Glenis Green - The Sunday Mail
December 06, 2006 11:00pm

THE pain is still evident in their eyes but three years after the abduction of their teenage son Bruce and Denise Morcombe are trying to move on with life.

They will mark today's third anniversary of 13-year-old Daniel's disappearance with a fresh public appeal for information. But they also are busy with plans to sell their Palmwoods, Sunshine Coast, acreage property.
And Mrs Morcombe is looking forward to walking the rugged Milford Track in New Zealand's South Island next March. It will be a "girls only" trip with police officer Senior- Sergeant Julie Elliott, who has become a family friend during the prolonged investigation.

Looking slim and trim after losing about 10kg in training for the big walk, the petite Mrs Morcombe said yesterday she found walking up to 10km a week therapeutic.

Mr Morcombe said the family had decided to sell their Palmwoods home and 2ha property after October's "Day for Daniel" because their oldest son Dean,19, had left home and was running his own Jim's Trees franchise, while Daniel's twin brother Bradley would be turning 17 next week.

The Morcombes said it would be a race to see whether Bradley would get his pilot's licence or driver's licence first.

"We're not so far removed from pretty well every other family that, as the kids reach their high teens and start moving out and get their own careers, you start to look at the place and say, 'it's too bloody big'," Mr Morcombe said.

The Morcombes said when they sold their home of the past 6½ years they planned to live between Palmwoods and Maroochydore.

They had also recently purchased "a rural retreat" interstate.

"But we'll live here – we can't leave Daniel up here," Mrs Morcombe said. Mrs Morcombe said even if they moved they would always keep Daniel's pony "Bullet" and that she still had all Daniel's clothes packed up and stored away.

"There's even stuff of his still in the ironing basket that I haven't been able to face."

Missing boy's parents reveal phone tip-off