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House added to search in Tiahleigh case

Multiple houses and vehicles have already been searched in the case of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, Queensland police say.

Forensics officers examine a house south of Brisbane
A house south of Brisbane is being combed by detectives investigating the death of Tiahleigh Palmer. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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A public appeal from the mother of murdered Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer has triggered information that led detectives to forensically examine a house close to her school.

Officers have this week been combing through the vacant housing commission property on Logan Reserve Road, Waterford West, in the first major development made public in the case since Tiahleigh, 12, was found dead last November.

The Marsden High student was dropped off at school on the morning of October 30, but police believe she left to meet somebody.

She was found dead in the Pimpama River six days later, however her uniform and backpack have never been found.

Detective Superintendent Dave Hutchinson said police had been working at the home since Tuesday and would finish on Friday afternoon.

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"This came about as a consequence of information generated following the interview of Cindy Palmer," he said at the scene.

"That generated a fair amount of information, and this is one of the avenues of inquiry we have coming from that information."

Police will not reveal how the house is linked to the case or what they are looking for, but said a person attended a police station with information after Ms Palmer's appeal on March 14.

The low-set property, just over 1km from Marsden State High School, was vacated by a mother and her four sons only weeks ago.

They lived there for eight years, but one of the sons has said he only knew Tiahleigh from media reports.

Police have conducted similar forensic examinations on multiple houses and vehicles over the course of the investigation, it was revealed.

The outside of the home has been dusted for fingerprints while its interior was a hive of police activity, with a collection of chemical tests being carried out on a table.

Det Hutchinson renewed an appeal for anyone who saw a girl fitting Tiahleigh's description on Logan Reserve Road that Friday to contact authorities.

Police have also offered a $250,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

"More importantly, as I've said before, there is also an indemnity from prosecution available for anyone who may have been part of the offence but didn't actually commit the murder themselves," Det Hutchinson added.


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