MUM’S PLEA FOR HELP
Call for justice as police search FNQ waterways for Toyah clues
THE mother of Toyah Cordingley has spoken for the first time about the rollercoaster of emotions since her daughter’s murder. Vanessa Gardiner (left) wants the public’s help to track the killer as police widen the search.
TOYAH Cordingley’s family has shared the anguish of her death for the first time as they urge anyone who may be holding back information regarding the 24-year-old’s death to come forward.
Ms Cordingley was reported missing about 10.50pm on October 21, with police launching a ground search.
Her body was found about 7.45am the following morning at Wangetti Beach by her father Troy Cordingley.
Ms Cordingley’s mother Vanessa Gardiner thanked the community for their ongoing support during this “unimaginable and terrible time in their lives”.
She was with her husband Darren “Snake” Gardiner when she spoke publicly.
“We were extremely proud parents of the beautiful young woman that our Toyah became,” she said.
“To have her stolen from us in such a manner breaks our hearts in ways you can’t even imagine.”
She said life would never be the same after finding Ms Cordingley’s body at Wangetti Beach.
“The scale of what was happening was unbelievable. It was surreal … we could see the main crime scene where Toyah was,” she said.
“The days that followed did not feel real to us.”
She urged anyone who may know what happened to her daughter to contact police.
“If there is anyone who is holding back or knows something about this, no matter how small the information may be, we plead with you to come forward to bring us closer to finding who and why anyone would do this to our Toyah,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“You can help our broken family by bringing hope and justice for Toyah’s senseless death. Life for us will never, ever be the same.
“A message from Toyah to everyone, especially all the young women in the world – never give up.”
Ms Cordingley’s stepfather Darren Gardiner took to social media to thank all those involved in helping the appeal for information by printing bumper stickers.
“Vanessa and myself can’t thank those involved enough in making this happen, especially Prong Trimble, Steve Parsonage, Susan and the other printing companies who have got on board also and those who will display them in support of Toyah,” he wrote.
Nine thousand of the bumper stickers have been printed and distributed in an effort to gather more information about Ms Cordingley’s death.