15 years and 4 months after Daniel left home and did not return, the Morcombe family remain enormously thankful to the community that has supported us. We recognise the extraordinary efforts of the Queensland Police Service and their determination to return him to his loved ones and ensure that whoever had abducted and murdered him were brought before the Courts.
A breakthrough was achieved after a dogged review of the key persons of interest by the Queensland State Coroner Michael Barnes and his Counsel Peter Johns in Daniel Morcombe’s Coronial Inquest. A subsequent Police investigative review coupled with the very public glare of the Inquest proved the catalyst for an amazing Queensland Police covert operation in partnership with West Australian Police that extracted not only a confession but a re-enactment of events on that fateful day.
The repulsive paedophile’s callus description of what took place that day and what he did to our much loved Daniel is chilling to say the least. His words have scarred us and will haunt us all forever. However, from such a dark place we have managed to generate a momentum of hope. By harnessing the public’s will for change, Daniel’s Legacy lives on through the work of Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Day for Daniel, held nationally the last Friday of October, has grown to be Australia’s largest and most influential child protection initiative. Each year more than 1,000,000 children, parents and educators join with us to keep kids safe.
We are forever grateful to the men and women of the SES who searched and searched and never gave up. We recognise the scientific experts and the legal process that got it right.
We thank the media for never forgetting Daniel. We acknowledge our legal representative Peter Boyce for his commitment and unwavering dedication to find the truth.
Today, collectively as a family we move on but individually we never forget. Daniel’s brothers, Dean and Bradley in just 2 weeks trek Kokoda to raise vital funds to directly improve the lives of abused children.
Our family are determined to ensure all children are safe.
Your donations will keep kids safe and are tax deductible.
Denise Morcombe OAM and Bruce Morcombe OAM