On December 7, 2003, 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe disappeared while waiting for a bus beneath the Kiel Mountain Road overpass on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. What should have been a routine trip to Sunshine Plaza became one of the largest missing child investigations in Queensland history, spanning years of public tips, shifting timelines, and missed opportunities.

In this episode of Crime Salad, Ashley and Ricky trace Daniel’s final known movements, the early police response, the flood of leads that overwhelmed investigators, and the long road to answers. Eight years later, an extraordinary undercover police operation finally drew out a confession from convicted child sex offender Brett Peter Cowan and led detectives to Daniel’s remains. Cowan was later convicted of murder, indecent treatment of a child, and interfering with a corpse.

We also examine the lasting impact of Daniel’s case, including major procedural reforms in Queensland and the ongoing work of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to promote child safety education.

Listener discretion advised: This episode includes discussion of child abduction, sexual violence, and murder.

Daniel Morcombe, Daniel Morcombe case, Brett Peter Cowan, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Palmwoods, Woombye, Kiel Mountain Road overpass, Sunshine Plaza, missing child, child abduction, true crime Australia, Queensland Police undercover operation, Operation Bravo Vista, Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Day for Daniel, Daniel’s Law, child safety.

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