Police in South Australia are revisiting a cold case involving the murder of Rosemary Brown and the disappearance of her daughter, Melissa Trussell, which occurred 25 years ago. The pair was last seen on May 13, 2000, in Blair Athol, approximately 4km from Adelaide’s city centre, around 2:30am. Later that day, Rosemary’s handbag was found on Stirling Street in Northfield, but it was not submitted to the police until May 23, following a public appeal for information.
Approximately two months after their last sighting, on July 2, Rosemary’s body was discovered in mangroves at Garden Island, located north-west of Adelaide. Sadly, her daughter Melissa remains missing, and authorities believe she may have been murdered.
As the 25th anniversary of Rosemary’s remains being found approaches, police are once again appealing for public assistance to solve this troubling double homicide case. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke expressed hope that this significant milestone might prompt someone with information to come forward. He empathetically noted the pain and suffering Rosemary and Melissa’s family has endured over the years, particularly highlighting the ongoing grief experienced by Rosemary’s father and sister.
Fielke described the case as deeply disturbing, given that they have the confirmed murder of a mother alongside the unresolved disappearance of a 15-year-old girl whom they suspect is also a victim. In an effort to spark new leads, police have released never-before-seen photographs of both Rosemary and Melissa.
Fielke indicated that the investigation is progressing, with “positive lines of inquiry” being pursued, and emphasised the importance of even the smallest pieces of information that could aid in piecing together the case. To incentivise the public’s cooperation, a $1 million reward remains on offer for any information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Rosemary’s murder and Melissa’s disappearance.