On December 12, 2000, a seemingly ordinary day turned into a nightmare for the family of Melbourne teenager Cherie Westell.
Just days away from her 16th birthday, Cherie disappeared without a trace after attending a dental appointment.
Despite years of investigation and a $1 million reward for information, the mystery of what happened to Cherie remains unsolved.
Her sudden disappearance has left her family heartbroken and the public still searching for answers.
 |
| Cherie Westell |
Background
Cherie Westell was a vibrant young girl with a passion for horses, sports, and music.
She dreamed of becoming a police officer, a goal she was working towards despite the challenges she faced in her young life.
Cherie had been in the foster care system for several years and was very close to her former foster mother, Frances Schulz.
Frances had been Cherie's foster caregiver for several years before Cherie was placed in another home.
However, their relationship became strained as Cherie struggled with her identity and her relationship with her biological mother.
Despite the challenges, Cherie stayed in regular contact with her former foster family.
She had planned Christmas celebrations with them and was preparing for her upcoming birthday before her disappearance.
 |
| Cherie Westell |
Disappearance
On December 12, 2000, Cherie visited the Knox Dental Group in Wantirna South around noon for a dental appointment.
She left the clinic at about 12:30 PM and went to a public phone booth at the corner of Selkirk Avenue and Wantirna Road.
At 1:58 PM, Cherie Westell called her former foster mother, Frances Schulz, from the phone booth.
During the call, she said she was planning to catch a train home to Ringwood.
This was the last known contact anyone had with Cherie.
Shockingly, it took six days for Cherie’s disappearance to be reported to the police.
Frances had tried to report her missing immediately but she couldn't.
She was told that a biological family member needed to file the report.
This delay in reporting added to the complexities of the investigation that would follow.
 |
| Cherie Westell |
Investigation, Search, and Theories
Once the missing persons report was finally filed, the police launched an investigation into Cherie’s disappearance.
Unfortunately, the trail had already gone cold, and no significant leads emerged in the early days.
Despite the extensive efforts of the Victoria Police’s Missing Persons Squad, Cherie was no were in sight.
Authorities interviewed several witnesses and followed different leads, but they found no concrete clues about Cherie’s whereabouts.
In 2003, a coronial inquest was held and it was concluded that Cherie had most likely died.
Detectives also suspected that she had fallen victim to foul play, which led to her death.
However, without evidence or any witnesses coming forward, the case remained unsolved.
Theories about what happened to Cherie range from abduction to murder, but no definitive answers have ever been found.
Senior Sergeant Tony Combridge, who has been with the Victoria Police for over 30 years, described Cherie’s case as “genuinely a mystery.”
He noted that, despite the squad’s best efforts, they have no information about what happened to Cherie after she left the dentist’s office.
The absence of CCTV footage, phone records, or any trace of Cherie after her last phone call has left investigators struggling for clues.
 |
| Cherie Westell |
Ongoing/Recent Developments
More than two decades after Cherie’s disappearance, the case still remains open.
Detectives are still hopeful that someone with information will come forward.
In a bid to break the case, Victoria Police have offered a $1 million reward for any information leading to the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for Cherie’s disappearance.
The reward is a clear indication of the seriousness with which authorities continue to treat this cold case.
Detective Acting Inspector Tony Combridge emphasized that the passage of time might actually work in their favor.
This is because friendships and allegiances change, and people who once kept secrets may now be willing to come forward.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to do the right thing and help bring Cherie home.
As the years have passed, the pain of not knowing what happened to Cherie has only deepened for those who loved her.
There is still hope that someone, somewhere, holds the key to solving the case and bringing closure to this long-unsolved mystery.
If you have information that may assist police to locate Cherie Westell please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an online report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Your confidentiality is guaranteed.
In another unusual case, Conrad Whitlock disappeared after parking his car on a highway and vanishing without a trace.
Click here for more details on the case and see if you can help bring closure to his loved ones.
Comments
Post a Comment