Melissa Trussell: Fresh search launched for Aussie teen missing for decades

Police divers are scouring a river bed in the hopes of uncovering the remains of a 15-year-old girl believed to have been murdered more than two decades ago.

Melissa Trussell and her mother Rosemary Brown, 33, were last seen leaving their South Australian home at Blair Athol about 2.30am on May 13, 2000.

Rosemary’s body was located in the Garden Island mangroves weeks later but Melissa’s body was never found.

Police launched a fresh search on Friday in the Port River estuary at Garden Island in the hopes of uncovering Melissa’s remains to provide her family with closure.

Divers are scouring a previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the island’s northern side.

“This search really does show to everyone that we never give up trying to find answers to those investigations,” Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters.

“We are hopeful that we will find Melissa’s remains today, but we are not sure that we will.”

Det Fielke did not know why the particular area near Garden Island had never been searched 25 years ago but a cold case review identified it as a place for further investigations.

A number of exhibits obtained in the initial investigation have been resubmitted for forensic testing to see if modern technology might result in new leads.

Police believe Melissa and her mother were murdered in 2000, but no one has ever been charged, nor has any motive been revealed.

Det Fielke was still hopeful someone would come forward and explain what really happened to the pair.

“Twenty-five years is a long time, a lot of water goes under the bridge, people’s allegiances change over time, people forget about it, some people don’t forget about it,” he said.

“We are always in there prodding and poking away trying to get a breakthrough.”

Melissa’s father Barry Trussell earlier this month issued a plea for information to help provide closure on the 25th anniversary of Rosemary’s body being found.

“A parent shouldn’t outlive their child … and for a long time (Melissa’s disappearance) has messed me up,” he said.

“I’m hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case.”

A reward of $1 million is available to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of a suspect in Melissa’s murder or the recovery of her remains.

Up to $200,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for Rosemary’s murder.