Abduction and Murder Mystery

The abduction and killing of mother and daughter Rosemary brown and Melissa Brown (AKA Melissa Trussell) are one of Adelaide’s most alarming unsolved murder cases.

The remains of Rosemary, 33, were discovered in the Garden Island mangroves on July 2, 2000 — seven weeks after she and Melissa, 15, were last seen.

 

Major Crime detectives think it is likely Melissa was also killed and her corpse dumped with that of her mother. But her remains were never recovered, despite all-out searches by divers.

 

The only indication so far to solving the crime has been Rosemary’s handbag, which was discovered on a Northfield street the day after she was last glimpsed alive. It was not handed into police until May 23, with its contents.

 

Rosemary's son Nathan was just 11 at the time of his mother and half-sisters disappearance.

After the crimes, he spent five years living with several relatives and friends, and then made his way in life from the age of 16.

 

The family had been residing at the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park but were ousted on May 7, 2000.

They spent that night in a friend’s caravan, which was stationed in the carpark near the Garden Island walkway, not far from the area where Rosemary’s remains were discovered.

 

The caravan was then stridden to the back yard of a Blair Athol house, where Rosemary and Melissa were last seen on May 13, 2000.

 

Mr Davidson told the last time he saw his mother was in the caravan on the night of May 12, before he went to a friend’s home.

 

‘There were quite a few people there and she didn’t look pleased, she looked tense,’’ he said.

 

“I remember we were battling at the time, homeless and moving around a bit.’’

 

He said he and Melissa were attending schools at Windsor Gardens and after school, they would assist their mother with her work.

 

Rosemary was working three jobs at the time to provide for her children — cleaning jobs and landscaping.

 

Mr Davidson stayed at his mate’s home that night and returned to the Blair Athol home the next day and stayed for his mother’s return. 

 

“I stayed there for a week but they didn’t come back and then it got reported,’’ he said.

 

Major Crime case officer Detective Brevet Sergeant Jodie O’Brien said the inquiry was still active, with data being provided by the public every month.

 

She said Rosemary had been at work as usual on Friday, May 12, and had then spent some time touring friends at the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park before going to the Blair Athol address. Detectives had not yet verified why the pair left the Blair Athol address early on May 13.

 

“Rosemary has left the caravan and Melissa has followed her,’’ Brevet-Sgt O’Brien said. “That is the last time they were seen.”

 

Several people have been interviewed at length over the killings — comprising the owner of the caravan — but there is no strong suspect.

 

The inquiry has been impeded because no crime scene indication is available and there is little forensic proof.

 

A cause of demise for Rosemary Brown has not been disclosed. Detectives are eager to hear from anybody who mixed in the circle's Rosemary Brown did, anyone who may have glimpsed the pair in the area of the Garden Island walkway between May 7 and July 2, or who may have seen the pair after May 13.

 

“There may be people who know something who were hesitant to talk to us then who can now help us,” Brevet-Sgt O’Brien said. “Allegiances change over time and Nathan and needs closure so he can move on.”

 

Melissa's Father Barry, Mother Leanne (now deceased) brothers Hamish, Anthony, Wade & TJ along with younger sister Kayla are not giving up hope. They stay in contact with detectives and are always asking the public for any information. 

They would like to bring her home and give her some peace along with some closure for the rest of the family.

They will never give up. 

 

Circumstances of the crimes are captioned on playing cards which are distributed through the state’s jails as part of the Operation Persist cold case initiative.

 

A reward of $200,000 is ready for information about the killing of Rosemary Brown and a $1 million reward is available for data on Melissa’s killing and the recovery of her corpse.