The father of Quanne Diec has visited a bushland site at Cataract, where police are digging in search of the missing schoolgirl's remains.
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Detectives led Sam Diec to a site one kilometre north of the Southern Gateway Centre on the western side of Appin Road a short time ago.
He lingered over the dig site a while before departing.
Addressing reporters, Detective Inspector Glen Parks said the search was a difficult time for the family.
“Obviously they’re coping as well as can be expected. It’s been a very difficult time for them and we would continue to support them in this process,” Detective Inspector Parks said.
“As of last Thursday Quanne Diec has been missing for over 19 years and as you can appreciate it’s a very difficult time for her family and that is why we’re doing all we can to try and locate her remains and bring some closure to her family.”
“We’re always hopeful and will never give up.”
The schoolgirl went missing on July 27, 1998 after leaving her Granville home to catch the train to Strathfield Girls' High School.
In November, police charged Vinzent Tarantino with her murder.
“There’s been a lot of experienced, a lot of dedicated investigators who have worked on this job from word go and they’re doing everything they can to assist us,” Detective Inspector Parks said.
“Today… investigators from Strike Force Lyndey along with the assistance of specialist police from the forensic services group are searching several areas of bushland along Appin Road at Cataract in an attempt to locate Quanne Diec’s remains.”
The search will cover an area several hundred metres alongside Appin Road, and about 100 metres deep into the bush.
It is expected to continue for two or three days and follows an earlier search on November 23 last year, where a handcuffed Tarantino led police across the same search site.
Investigating police have examined aerial photographs of the site from 1998 and today to learn how the landscape has changed over time.
“It’s very difficult terrain and we identified that early when we were here in November last year,” Detective Inspector Parks said.
“There’s thick shrubbery, sandy and rocky soil which makes it very difficult for searching these particular areas along with the difficulties with the inclement weather.
“We have returned here on a couple of occasions since November to do a search and to assess the area and as a result of that we’re back here conducting a more systemic and methodical search of these particular areas.
“Obviously the terrain has changed significantly over the past 19 years. It has significantly overgrown since then so obviously that has made it difficult for us in identifying exactly where we should be searching.”
Detective Inspector Parks declined to comment on Tarantino’s mental state or the details he has provided to police as his case is now before the courts.