TIMELINE OF TRAGIC CASE THAT ENDED IN DESPAIR
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4:
NORA is reported missing after her father discovers she is not in her bedroom at the Dusun Resort at around 8am on Sunday. The window was also open in the room that Nora had been sharing with her two siblings. Family friend, Catherine Cook said: ‘It’s out of character for Nora to go wandering off.’
MONDAY, AUGUST 5:
A British charity says Malaysian police are treating Nora’s disappearance as a potential abduction, but officers deny there is any foul play involved. The Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity supporting missing people abroad, say police believe Nora could have been taken. However, Che Zakaria Bin Othman, deputy police chief of Negeri Sembilan, says: ‘So far there’s no indication of foul play, however investigations are still ongoing.’
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6:
Nora’s family say they believe she was abducted. A statement released on Tuesday says: ‘Nora’s family believe she has been abducted. ‘We are especially worried because Nora has learning and developmental disabilities, and is not like other 15-year-olds. ‘She looks younger, she is not capable of taking care of herself, and she won’t understand what is going on. She never goes anywhere by herself. We have no reason to believe she wandered off and is lost.’
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7:
Police say they are analysing unidentified fingerprints found in the family’s hotel suite. The prints were at an open window in a downstairs hall – not in the bedroom upstairs where the girl was sleeping with her siblings, deputy police chief Che Zakaria Othman says.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9:
Police investigate whether footprints found in the forest where Nora went missing belong to the missing teen. Nora’s family also reveal more about her condition, holoprosencephaly, as search crews play recorded messages from her mother, Meabh, through the forest, in an attempt to reach the youngster. The family say in a statement: ‘Nora is not like other teenagers. She is not independent and does not go anywhere alone. ‘Nora can read like a young child, but she cannot write more than a few words. She has a good memory but she cannot understand anything conceptual... She cannot make or receive phone calls independently.’
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10:
Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, say: ‘To be with us here, it means the world to us. We are so grateful for everything that you are doing for us, everyone who is helping here and not from here. We are extremely impressed by the effort – your expertise, your dedication and we hope you find Nora. And thank you so much.’
MONDAY, AUGUST 12:
A visibly emotional Mrs Quoirin makes a further appeal. She tells TV reporters: ‘Nora is our first child. She has been vulnerable since the day she was born. She is so precious to us and our hearts are breaking. We are appealing to anyone who has information about Nora to help us find her.’ A reward of £10,000 – donated by an anonymous Belfast business – is made available for information leading to Nora’s safe return.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13:
A body is found in the search for Nora. It is later confirmed to be that of Nora.