Advertisement

Heartbreaking photos reveal final days of teen found dead in bushland

The final days of a murdered teenage girl’s life have been revealed in a series of photos posted online before the 18-year-old was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend.

Emily Nicole Thompson’s body was discovered by police in bushland on the Sunshine Coast at around 3am on Sunday, about one kilometre from a petrol station in Nambour.

Hours earlier police say she’d met up with Aaron Daniel Mitchelson Huckel – who she had been in a relationship with until recently – at a carpark in Strathpine.

It will be alleged that he murdered her there before dumping her body 80 kilometres away.

Emily Nicole Thompson looking into a mirror (left) and a selfie (right).
Emily Nicole Thompson was last pictured on social media in a mirror selfie the day before she was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Source: Facebook/Instagram

In a picture posted to Facebook just 24 hours before she died, Ms Thompson can be seen with short dark hair and a long fringe, looking into a mirror at the lens of her camera phone without smiling.

It is thought to be one of the last pictures taken of the young woman.

Ex-boyfriend charged with her murder

Ms Thompson’s family raised the alarm and phoned police at 7pm on Saturday evening when the Pine Rivers State High School student failed to return to her Petrie home.

It took officers just an hour and a half to track down and arrest 19-year-old Mr Huckel, who was by himself at the service station in Nambour.

He has since been with charged with his former girlfriend’s murder.

“There was no history [of domestic violence] there but it doesn’t matter,” Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said.

“It is unacceptable. Ultimately a young person lost their life at the hands of another.”

Mr Huckel’s case was mentioned in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

He did not appear in court and was remanded in custody ahead of a further mention at the Pine River Magistrates Court on October 31.

Emily Thompson with a friend (left) and a selfie (right).
18-year-old Ms Thompson is being remembered as a loving girl who always put others first. Source: Facebook/Instagram

'Kind-hearted and loving girl'

Ms Thompson had only turned 18 two weeks before she was murdered, while she was just weeks away from graduating, as reported by The Courier Mail.

The teen is now being remembered as a “smart, kind-hearted and loving girl”.

“It was never about Emily, it was always about her family and friends,” Tracey Pelling, a spokesperson for the Thompson family, told Seven News.

“She had her whole life ahead of her. Her family is devastated and in shock trying to comprehend how their lives will be without their Emily.”

In a final post to Instagram on October 8, the teen can be seen celebrating with friends who she described as the “loves of my life”.

An autopsy will be carried out soon to determine Ms Thompson’s cause of death as the police investigation continues.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.