Death of Tiahleigh Palmer

Death of Tiahleigh Palmer

A group of six people dressed in purple carry a white coffin from concrete onto a footpath, next to a woman in a white shirt holding a bouquet of flowers.

Palmer's friends and family carry her coffin at her funeral. Her alleged killer, Rick Thorburn, is the second pallbearer from the left.
Date Last reported seen 30 October 2015
Remains found 5 November 2015
Remains identified 6 November 2015
Location Logan, Queensland, Australia
Tiahleigh Palmer

A girl in a school uniform wearing a purple backpack stands in front of a house.

Palmer in her school uniform
Born Tiahleigh Alyssa Rose Palmer
2002/2003
Disappeared 30 October, 2015
Marsden - Waterford West Logan
Died 30 October – 5 November, 2015 (aged 12)
Body discovered Kerkin Road North Pimpama River

Tiahleigh Alyssa Rose Palmer (sometimes known as Tia or Tiah) was a 12-year-old Australian girl who lived in Logan, Queensland.[1] She disappeared on 30 October 2015, her remains were found five days later and her foster father, Rick Thorburn, was charged on 20 September 2016 with her murder.

Disappearance and death

Palmer's foster father says he drove her to Marsden State High School on 30 October 2015, dropping her off at about 8:10am. [2] She did not attend any classes and was not seen for the rest of the day. On 5 November, police released photos and appealed to the public for information on Palmer's whereabouts in a press conference.[3] Later that day, the remains of a female aged 12–18 were found on the bank of the Pimpama River and, on 6 November, they were officially identified as Palmer's. Police then began a search for Palmer's backpack and school uniform.[4] On 7 November, a vigil was held in Logan for Palmer and, on 14 November, her funeral was held and attended by more than 600 people.[5][6]

Investigation, arrests and charges

On 4 December 2015, a shoe believed to be Palmer's was found near the location her body was discovered.[7] Police have forensically examined a number of houses and vehicles in connection with the homicide. The investigation has so far failed to find her missing backpack and school uniform.[8][9] In September 2016 a car formerly owned by Palmer's foster father was seized by police and is undergoing forensic examination.

On 20 September 2016, Palmer's foster parents and their two sons were taken into police custody for questioning. Her foster father, Rick Thorburn, was charged with her murder and with interfering with a corpse. He collapsed shortly after his arrest and was subsequently placed in an induced coma for several days, missing a scheduled court appearance the next day. Police are looking into whether he took pills just before or after his arrest, in a suicide attempt.[10] Palmer's 19-year-old foster brother, Trent, was charged with two counts of perjury and one count each of attempting to pervert the course of justice and incest, and was denied bail.[11][12] Palmer's foster mother, Julene, and older foster brother, Joshua, were both charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Palmer's grandmother has told reporters that, months before she died, Palmer had declined an option to move in with her mother because she had a crush on Trent, and because she loved the horses on the Thorburn property. In a court hearing on 21 September 2016 prosecutors said that two days before Palmer's death, Trent confessed to a cousin that he had had sex with Palmer on the previous Monday, and that Palmer had told his mother about it.[13][14] The court also heard that, shortly before her disappearance, Palmer had told a friend that her foster brother would have sex with her when Mrs Thorburn went out, and she had told her foster mother about the abuse. Prosecutors say that Trent now admits he was lying when he had earlier repeatedly denied the abuse to his parents and police.[15]

On 23 September investigators began excavating the Thorburns' rural property in a search for evidence.[16] Rick Thorburn said nothing to investigators, but Julene and Joshua made statements to police.[17] On 10 October 2016, Julene and Joshua Thorburn's lawyer told a court they would plead guilty to all charges and had agreed to be witnesses for the prosecution.[18] [19]

References

  1. ↑ "Tiahleigh Palmer: Police say those involved in 12yo's death 'should not feel comfortable'". ABC. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Thackray, Lucy (7 November 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: Mother of Tiahleigh Palmer, 12, whose body was found in a river, was 'trying to overcome criminal past and regain custody'... as police search for her school uniform and backpack". Daily Mail. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Koubaridis, Andrew (12 November 2015). "Police handling of the Tiahleigh Palmer case under scrutiny". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Timeline: The discovery of Tiahleigh Palmer's body and investigation into her suspected murder". ABC. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Silva, Kristian (14 November 2015). "Tiahleigh Palmer: Crowds gather for 12-year-old's funeral in Logan". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Burke, Liz (23 September 2016). "The foster father charged over Tiahleigh Palmer's murder". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Muddy shoe found in Tiahleigh Palmer case". Sky News Australia. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Tiahleigh Palmer: Detectives continue to examine Logan house in murdered schoolgirl case". 9 News Australia. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Tiahleigh Palmer: Detectives continue to examine Logan house in murdered schoolgirl case". MSN Australia. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Ethical standards investigate collapse of Tia's accused killer". abc.net.au. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Tiahleigh Palmer death: Foster father Rick Thorburn charged with murder". ABC News. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  12. ↑ Branco, Jorge (20 September 2016). "Tiahleigh Palmer murder investigation: Foster father charged with murder". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  13. ↑ Branco, Jorge (21 September 2016). "Tiahleigh Palmer's foster brother 'told cousin he had sex with her', court hears". Brisbane times. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  14. ↑ Burke, Liz. "Toxic relationship between murdered Tiahleigh Palmer and brother revealed". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  15. ↑ Beers, Lucy Mae; Geary, Belinda Grant; Crane, Emily (24 September 2016). "Tiahleigh Palmer's grandmother said the 'schoolgirl could have left the incestuous relationship with her foster brother - but chose to stay because she had a crush on him". Daily Mail Australia. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Tiahleigh Palmer: Police excavate home of accused murderer, foster father Rick Thorburn". ABC News. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  17. ↑ Stephens, Kim (24 September 2016). "Little girl lost: On the trail of Tiahleigh Palmer's killer". News.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  18. ↑ Tiahleigh Palmer: Former foster mother, brother to plead guilty to perjury over 12yo schoolgirl's death, ABC News, 10 October 2016
  19. ↑ Schaefer, Timothy (10 October 2016). "Tiahleigh Palmer's foster family turn on accused killer father". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
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