The farmer who allegedly murdered Tasmanian teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell was a complete stranger to her family – as it’s revealed her father is currently behind bars in the same prison her accused killer could be sent to if he is found guilty.
A farmer, Christopher Jordan, 36, has been charged after allegedly murdering teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell (pictured)
Christopher Jordan, 36, was arrested on Thursday over the death of 14-year-old Shyanne-Lee – almost three months after she vanished in Launceston on the evening of April 30 while walking to a friend’s place along a dark industrial road.
Police acting on a tip-off found human remains 52km away at Nabowla, in the state’s north-east, on Wednesday before swiftly taping off and scouring Jordan’s nearby Scottsdale property, sending in cadaver dogs and specialist divers to search a dam.
Police will allege Jordan came across Shyanne-Lee on the night she vanished before taking her to his place where he murdered her, before later dumping her body 24km away in remote bushland.
The shocking allegations have rocked the small, tight-knit communities in the state’s north – including Shyanne-Lee’s hometown, Burnie – as both the teenager’s family and residents nervously spent the past few months hoping she would safely return home.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia outside the family’s Burnie home on Saturday, Shyanne-Lee’s stepfather Nathan Spurr confirmed the alleged attack appeared to be random.
He told Daily Mail Australia neither he, Shyanne-Lee’s mother Bobbi-Lee Ketchell, nor the rest of the family knew of Jordan before his arrest.
Shyanne-Lee’s mother Bobbi-Lee Ketchell is pictured at her Burnie home on Saturday
Nathan Spurr, Shyanne-Lee’s stepdad, said the family did not know of her accused killer prior to his arrest
Nathan Tatnell (pictured), the father of Shyanne-Lee, was jailed in 2021 and is currently behind bars at Risdon prison. His crimes cannot be detailed for legal reasons
Police are yet to reveal whether they believe Shyanne-Lee had any prior interactions with Jordan before they allegedly crossed paths in the moments after she was last seen on CCTV footage walking east along Henry Street about 8.30pm on April 30.
The devastating outcome is just another in a series of tragedies the family has faced in recent years, with Ms Ketchell having lost Shyanne-Lee’s younger brother, Xavier, who suffered from a rare genetic disorder, in late 2012.
Daily Mail Australia can also reveal Shyanne-Lee’s father Nathan Tatnell is currently incarcerated at Risdon Prison Complex, a maximum-security facility near Hobart.
The nature of Tatnell’s crimes cannot be detailed for legal reasons; however, he was sentenced to 12 years in jail in 2021, with a minimum term of six years.
If convicted, Jordan could also be sent to Risdon prison for men, which takes in criminals convicted under both Tasmanian and Commonwealth laws.
The jail has housed the state’s most infamous inmates, including Port Arthur Massacre gunman Martin Bryant, who is serving a life sentence, as well as the late gangster-turned-celebrity Mark ‘Chopper’ Read.
Among other notorious prisoners are international cricket umpire and convicted child molester Steve Randell and child killer James O’Neill.
Shyanne-Lee – who would have turned 15 on August 8 – had been staying at Malana Youth at Risk Centre, which is run by non-for profit organisation Youth Family and Community Connections, in the two weeks before her disappearance.
Prior to that, she had been staying with her grandmother in Burnie after leaving her nearby family home after a series of rows.
According to its website, Malana Youth at Risk Centre ‘is a specialist homelessness service’ that provides ‘temporary accommodation and care’ to ‘unaccompanied children and young people aged between 12 and 15 years’.
Farmer Christopher Jordan, 36, (pictured) has been charged over the alleged murder
Police are seen searching Chris Jordan’s property in Scottsdale. Cadaver dogs and specialist divers also searched a dam in the area
Launceston youths told Daily Mail Australia Shyanne-Lee had been known to stay at various youth homes across northern Tasmania and was a ‘troubled teen’, with her mother previously saying she suffered from behavioural issues and depression.
On the night she disappeared, she was walking from the Brisbane Street centre to see a friend in the suburb of Ravenswood, a 4.3km walk away.
Her last sighting captured on CCTV shows her walking alone through the dark on an industrial road towards Henry Street bridge.
The spot where she was last seen and the bridge – about 20m away – have been turned into makeshift memorials, with community members leaving bouquets, teddy bears, flowers and notes.
‘Rest peacefully, beautiful girl, taken from this cruel world too soon,’ one person wrote.
‘Fly high with the angels.’
Another note began: ‘Rest in peace Shyanne.’
‘I am so sad for your family and for your innocent soul [allegedly] taken away.
‘You will forever be in our hearts.’
Jordan appeared in Launceston Court on Friday. Dressed in a blue parka and cargo pants, he appeared nonchalant as he glanced around the room from the dock.
Shyanne-Lee – who would have turned 15 on August 8 – had been staying at Malana Youth at Risk Centre (pictured), which is run by non-for profit organisation Youth Family and Community Connections, in the two weeks before her disappearance
Tributes seen on the Henry Street bridge where Shyanne was last seen on the night of her disappearance
The spot where she was last seen and the bridge – around 20m away – have been turned into makeshift memorials, with community members leaving bouquets, teddy bears, flowers and notes
The desperate search for Shyanne-Lee Tatnell (pictured) took a tragic turn on Wednesday when her remains were found in bushland
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until his next appearance on August 16.
A Burnie business owner said, while he was new to the area, his kids went to her school, Parklands High, and had friends who were close with Shyanne-Lee.
‘It’s taken a huge hit on the community,’ he said.
‘Everyone here knows each other.’
Another girl, who went to school with one of Shyanne’s siblings, said the mood around town has been sombre the past week.
‘It’s awful. Stuff like that doesn’t happen around here,’ she said.
Meanwhile, as the state comes to terms with the shocking chain of events, the community have rushed to rally around her devastated family.
On Saturday night, Tasmanians are being urged to leave a light on outside their home in honour of the allegedly slain teenager.
‘Let’s light up the night for a beautiful girl and her family and show our thoughts are with them!’ an event poster on Facebook reads.
