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
Café where Jacinda Ardern took Stephen Colbert in New Zealand collapses - as calls grow for ex-prime minister to return for Covid inquiry

New Zealand café that Jacinda Ardern and Stephen Colbert visited collapses, sparking demands for former prime minister to come back for Covid investigation.

The café where Dame Jacinda Ardern took The Late Show host Stephen…
An alleged Rebels bikie member has been charged after police uncovered a video of a caged cat being fatally shot at point-blank range on his phone.

Biker gang member accused of shooting cat in cage and denied bail

Ceejay Greenwood, 29, was allegedly driving a stolen truck on June 28…
'Most famous handbag of all time' sells for $15 million

“The most famous handbag ever sold for $15 million”

Sketched out on an air sickness bag, the first Birkin handbag —…

Hippo named Moo Deng from Thailand becomes an internet sensation as she turns one year old

Thailand’s pygmy hippo Moo Deng marked her first birthday on Thursday, drawing…
'Deeply loved' Australian lawyer, father of two, dies in Thailand

Australian lawyer and father of two, who was dearly loved, passes away in Thailand.

An Australian lawyer and dad of two who died in Thailand earlier…

US imposes sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations specialist who criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The United States is imposing sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’…
Pedestrian dead, two others injured after driver loses control in Melbourne

Fatal pedestrian accident and two others hurt as driver loses control in Melbourne

A pedestrian has died and two others have been rushed to hospital…
Police allege he then took 53 right-footed shoes only, not pairs, before putting them in his trolley and leaving the centre.

Detectives puzzled by man who stole 53 right shoes from store

A man allegedly stole 53 right shoes from a business in Queensland,…