Mum ‘living every parent’s worst nightmare’ after daughter, 14, goes missing

A devastated mum whose daughter went missing a month ago says she is living “every parent’s worst nightmare”. Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, 14, has been missing since April 30 when she was last seen crossing a bridge in Launceston, Tasmania. Bobbi-Lee Ketchell, 34, a mum-of-four, says she has barely been able to eat or sleep after her daughter’s disappearance.

Mrs Ketchell, who is also mum to three sons aged 16, 10, and four, is holding onto hope that her daughter will be found alive but is fearing the worst.

Authorities have said the teenager may have been taken against her will.

Police have searched the North Esk River but found no clues and are still trying to trace three vehicles caught on CCTV around the time Shyanne-Lee disappeared.

Mrs Ketchell told the Mercury: “I’m living every parent’s worst nightmare, but all I can do is pray she’s safe and comes home into my arms.”

The “funny, outgoing and compassionate” Shyanne-Lee was living at an at risk youth centre last and was last at home with her mum two months before she went missing.

Mrs Ketchell spoke to her daughter on the phone the night before she went missing and the pair had an argument about Shyanne-Lee, who has behavioural problems and suffers from depression, breaking rules to leave the centre.

She said: “The last thing I did was tell her I love her. She didn’t say it back. It was the last time I heard her voice.”

Preparing herself for the worst, Mrs Ketchell added she has “a gut feeling she is no longer with us”.

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Following the search of the river on May 12, Inspector Craig Fox said: “Police have today continued their search in the North Esk River, but unfortunately there has been no sighting of Shyanne-Lee. We will continue with planned policing activities over the weekend; however, we are confident that based on current information we have thoroughly searched the North Esk River area around where Shyanne-Lee was last seen.

“As is normal practice, an independent review of the search grid will be conducted, and further air and water searches may be conducted next week with an expanded search grid. This has been an extensive search and I thank everyone for their assistance, including Tasmania SES members, volunteers, and members of the community.

“I’ll urge anyone who has information on Shyanne-Lee’s location or movements to come forward. Any piece of information, even small, may be what we need to find Shyanne-Lee. If you were in the area of Henry Street, Launceston, near the North Esk River, around 8.30pm on Sunday 30 April, and you haven’t already spoken to police, please come forward.”

“Again, I remind Shyanne-Lee that if she is out there, and if she’s scared to come forward for fear of being in trouble, I reassure her she is not in trouble, and we all want to know she is ok.”