Heather turner missing adelaide schoolgirl family plea inquest 20250608 p5zec2.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Family's plea for answers decades after schoolgirl's murder

Sarah Swain
Sarah Swain

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The heartbroken family of a murdered Adelaide schoolgirl is renewing a decades-long plea for any information to help find her killer.

Speaking exclusively to 9News, Heather Turner's loved ones said they were considering calling for a coronial inquest into the cold case in a desperate bid for justice. 

For 27 years the Turner family have lived with the pain of never knowing who killed their 16-year-old daughter, sister and cousin, and why.

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For 27 years the Turner family have lived with the pain of never knowing who killed their 16-year-old daughter, sister and cousin Heather, and why.

For 27 years the Turner family have lived with the pain of never knowing who killed their 16-year-old daughter, sister and cousin Heather, and why. Nine

Kym Maree Kuijeers called her a "typical bubbly child."

"It's hard because you can't see past that now, she'll always be that," she said.

It was a warm January day back in 1998 and Heather was at Semaphore Beach with her best friend.

She planned to walk back to her home in Largs Bay but instead somehow ended up in Daveron Park.

Kuijeers said there were "too many unanswered questions that need to be answered."

"Somebody has got to know something," she said.

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Police say she met there with a group of at least four to eight people in their 20s.

After spending some time at the Daveron Park house she was supposed to head back home but never did.

A fortnight later her body was found partly submerged in a creek at Port Gawler.

READ MORE: Teen to face court after alleged hit-and-run in Sydney

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"It's just heartbreaking what would have gone through her mind at that point," Kuijeers said.

The heartbroken family of a murdered Adelaide schoolgirl is renewing a decades-long plea for any information to help find her killer.Speaking exclusively to 9News, Heather Turner's loved ones said they were considering calling for a coronial inquest into the cold case in a desperate bid for justice.

The heartbroken family of a murdered Adelaide schoolgirl is renewing a decades-long plea for any information to help find her killer. Nine

The family's grief is still as great as the day Heather's body was found.

Now they're considering calling for a coronial inquest to hopefully bring about answers and possibly more information."

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The heartbroken family of a murdered Adelaide schoolgirl is renewing a decades-long plea for any information to help find her killer.Speaking exclusively to 9News, Heather Turner's loved ones said they were considering calling for a coronial inquest into the cold case in a desperate bid for justice.

Heather Turner's loved ones said they were considering calling for a coronial inquest into the cold case in a desperate bid for justice.  Nine

"There are people wandering around that know exactly what happened, and be nice to put her to rest, literally." Kuijeers said.

It remains a mystery where Heather was for the fortnight before she was discovered.

Police believe she was murdered at an unknown location before her body was moved.

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For Kuijeers, the fight for justice is far from over.

"I will never give up," she said.

"Somebody is responsible. one or more we don't know.

"Have they done it before, will they do it again, I don't want my kids living in a world is like that."

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In a statement to 9News, Attorney General Kyam Maher said he "appreciates their efforts to find those responsible for this senseless killing.

For 27 years the Turner family have lived with the pain of never knowing who killed their 16-year-old daughter, sister and cousin Heather, and why.

It was a warm January day back in 1998 and Heather was at Semaphore Beach with her best friend. But she never made it home. Nine

"Any request for an inquest would be considered in line with normal process," he said.

A $1 million dollar reward remains on offer to anyone with information that could help, finally lead to a conviction.

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"We'll get justice for Heather one day," Kuijeers said. 

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