Money withdrawn from missing Queensland teen's account
The bank account of missing Queensland teenager Jayde Kendall was accessed twice on the evening she vanished.
Police say money was withdrawn from the 16-year-old's account via an ATM on Railway Street, Gatton, at 5.45pm and 5.47pm on Friday August 14, hours after she was seen getting into a red car outside Lockyer District High School.
The teenager has not been seen from or heard from since.
On Monday Jayde's family described the teenager as the glue that holds her family together.
They say she became a mother to her younger brother after her mum's untimely death to cancer several years ago.
Her disappearance has left her family traumatised and begging for answers.
The teenager was last seen getting into a car on August 14th. Source: Queensland Police
Detective Acting Inspector Matt Howard said police were treating her disappearance as a "suspicious missing persons case" given it was out of character for her to disappear and her bank account hasn't been touched.
The friend who picked her up has been cooperating with police and is still considered a person of interest in the case, but detectives are yet to have a breakthrough.
Insp Howard said 20 detectives were working around the clock on the case and are following up on about 100 tip-offs made to Crime Stoppers.
The red 2003 model Toyota hatchback is believed to have travelled around Gatton between 3-6pm on August 14. Photo: Queensland Police
Jayde's uncle Craig Morrissey, flanked by her aunties Jenny Morrissey, Emma Ralph and Kelli Schrader, told reporters on Monday his niece was committed to her studies and part-time work at McDonald's and wasn't the type of person who would run away.
But, he said, the family was praying she had.
"Every family out there holds onto hope, so we are just hoping that for the best outcome that Jayde has run away for any reason which we have no idea," Mr Morrissey said.
He also had a message for anyone who might be holding his niece against her will.
"Have a bit of human decency," he said.
"Just bring her home to us, mate."
Mr Morrissey praised Jayde's character, saying she looked after her father and brother after her mother's death.
"She had become the mother of the family, so what I mean by glue is, that's what holds the family together," he said.
"She held it back together way back then and it has always been the same."
The 16-year-old has not been seen since August 14. Source: Queensland Police
Jayde's father was too traumatised to speak to media on Monday.
Apex Park in Gatton was searched at the weekend following a public tip-off, but nothing of interest was found.
Detectives are continuing to trawl through CCTV footage and are expected to publicly release some of it in coming days.
They are interested in anyone who saw the red 2003 Toyota Corolla hatchback Jayde got in after school anywhere around Gatton between 3pm and 6pm on the day she disappeared.
Morning news break – August 25
