Missing 15-year-old Melissa Trussell
Share and Follow

Police have issued a renewed appeal to help solve the cold case murder and disappearance of an Adelaide mother and her teenage daughter 25 years ago.

Rosemary Brown, 33, and her daughter Melisssa Trussell, 15, were last seen in Blair Athol, around 4km from Adelaide’s CBD, at around 2.30am on May 13, 2000.

Rosemary’s handbag was found later that same day on Stirling Street in Northfield.

Missing 15-year-old Melissa Trussell
Missing 15-year-old Melissa Trussell. (South Australia Police)

It was not handed into police until May 23 following a public appeal about the missing women.

Nearly two months later on July 2, Rosemary’s body was discovered in mangroves at Garden Island, a city north-west of Adelaide.

Melissa has never been found and police believe she was murdered.

On the 25th anniversary of the discovery of Rosemary’s remains, police have asked the public for assistance in solving the “disturbing” double cold case.

Melissa Trussell (Brown), aged 15, went missing from Adelaide in 2000
Police have shared new photos of Melissa in the hope someone comes forward. (South Australia Police)

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said police were using the grim milestone to hopefully encourage somebody with information to come forward.

“As you can imagine, that’s 25 years of ongoing pain and suffering for the family not knowing what has happened to Rosemary and Melissa,” Fielke said.

“This case is particularly disturbing in that we found the body of a murdered mother, and we have a 15-year-old girl who remains missing and we suspect has been murdered.”

Fielke shared never-before-seen photographs of the mother and daughter.

He said their loved ones, particularly Rosemary’s father and sister, are still overcome with grief.

Rosemary Brown was found murdered near Adelaide on July 2, 2000.
Rosemary Brown was found murdered near Adelaide on July 2, 2000. (South Australia Police)

Fielke said police are following “positive lines of inquiry” into Rosemary’s murder and Melissa’s disappearance and was hopeful the investigation was close to a breakthrough.

“But we can always have more information and sometimes it’s those little pieces of the jigsaw we are looking for to put it all together,” he added.

A $1 million reward remains on offer for anyone with information which leads to the conviction of those responsible.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Vision shows hundreds of young beachgoers storming the Woolworths store.

Second Day of Teen Beach Fights Follows Supermarket Vandalism Incident

A chaotic scene unfolded at Mordialloc Beach last night as a group…

Chinese Student Shares Harrowing Bondi Rescue Amid Gunfire

Floating on the sea, Chinese international student Levi Xu could see the…
Jactina Allan has warned there will be consequences for people who attend the rally in Melbourne's CBD.

Calls Intensify for Victorian Government Response to Controversial Anti-Zionist Rally

Jewish leaders are calling on the Victorian government to prevent an anti-Zionism…
Sultana will be eligible for parole in January 2056.

Shocking Sentencing: Man Receives Decades-Long Prison Term for Brutal Assault on Partner

A man convicted of a brutal domestic violence murder, who later boasted…
The moment group of nine Melbourne High boys open their ATAR results together in 2024.

Relief for Students as ATAR Scores Announced Across Multiple States

Most of the nation’s 2025 Year 12 students have finally seen their…
Photo of Neo Nazi  Jacob Hersant   leaving the Melbourne county court on Tuesday 26June 2023. Photo THE AGE/ LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI

Court Upholds Conviction for Neo-Nazi Over Controversial Salute

A judge has confirmed that a far-right extremist executed a Nazi salute…
The vision shows a masked figure running towards the Bald Hills Mosque and committing the vile act late on Wednesday night.

Brisbane Mosque Vandalism Caught on CCTV: Community Calls for Justice

An appalling incident was caught on CCTV, showing a vandal defacing a…
Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal holds a press conference at Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney. Thursday July 10th, 2025.

Unveiling the Stalled Strategy: The PM’s Controversial Antisemitism Plan Awaiting Action

The federal government has faced escalating criticism over how it has responded…