December 7, 2003
Daniel Morcombe disappears from a bus stop at Woombye on the Sunshine Coast in 2003. His family believe he was on his way to the Sunshine Plaza shopping centre to have a haircut and to buy Christmas presents. A late-running bus passes him and does not stop. Daniel Morcombe is not at the stop when another bus passes minutes later.
October 2010
A coronial inquest into Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance begins.
August 13, 2011
Brett Peter Cowan, from Perth, is charged with Daniel Morcombe’s murder after a conversation is recorded with undercover police officers.
August 21, 2011
Human remains and shoes are found in bushland in the Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast.
August 28, 2011
Forensic testing confirms the remains belong to Daniel Morcombe.
November 2011
Bruce and Denise Morcombe are named 2012 Queensland Australians of the Year for their child safety advocacy work following their son's disappearance.
December 7, 2012
Daniel Morcombe's funeral service is held.
February 7 2013
Brett Peter Cowan, 44, is committed to stand trial for Daniel Morcombe's abduction and murder at his committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
February 10, 2014
The trial begins. Brett Peter Cowan pleads not guilty. The trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane is expected to last for six weeks and up to 200 witnesses may be called to give evidence.
March 13, 2014
Jury comes back with a guilty verdict for Brett Peter Cowan. He has been found guilty on three counts: murder, indecent treatment of a child and interfering with a corpse.
