I was one of the last people to see Shyanne-Lee Tatnell alive: Witness breaks silence over Tasmanian teenager’s alleged murder
A rabbi has spoken out about the moment he realized he was one of the last people to see the allegedly murdered Tasmanian teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell alive.
Yochanan Gordon, a rabbi in the Chabad of Tasmania in Launceston, was driving back from a charity visit to a homeless family on Henry Street, Launceston sometime after 8:30pm on the evening of April 30.
Moments later on the same road, some of Shyanne-Lee’s final moments were captured on CCTV – with Mrs. Tatnell walking onto the road and disappearing into the darkness.
On Monday, police confirmed that the remains found at an estate in Scottsdale, northeast of the city, belonged to the 14-year-old girl.
Christopher Jordan, a complete stranger to Shyanne-Lee’s family, was charged with murder last Thursday.
Shyanne-Lee Tatnell (above) was last seen on Henry Street in Launceston, Tasmania, at about 8.30pm on April 30
Tasmanian rabbi Yochanan Gordon (above) realized he was one of the last people to see Shyanne-Lee alive after police put out an appeal on Facebook for the driver of a silver sedan
Mr Gordon shared a post about the meeting, writing: ‘At that point Shyanne Lee walked (to) Ravenswood and it turned out to be the last time she was seen alive.
“Because of this, I was one of the last people to see her alive. This heartbreaking story touched me deeply.
“While I am relieved that Shyanne Lee’s family can come to an end, I am also saddened and hurt by the crimes committed against her.”
Mr Gordon told Daily Mail Australia he called police after seeing detectives looking for the drivers of three silver cars, specifically a saloon car similar to his own, that had passed by that evening.
Police told him he had driven over the Henry Street Bridge as Shyanne-Lee was walking towards it on her way to a friend in nearby Ravenswood.
“I drove by around the time she was last seen, but the cars the police were looking for had driven by a little later that night, after I had been there,” he said.
“Police posted a video showing three vehicles, gray vehicles.
“I called them up, but the person on the line didn’t know what I was talking about, so I emailed the police and they moved it up.”
Mr Gordon was driving on the road where Shyanne-Lee was last seen just before she was captured on CCTV (pictured one of three silver cars seen on CCTV)
Police issued an appeal for the drivers of three silver cars (two above) seen on the road around the time Shyanne-Lee was seen driving a silver saloon called the police
However, the rabbi had no recollection of seeing the teen, as she was one of several pedestrians walking in the area.
‘I don’t remember much – I did see people walking.
“You don’t think about who’s on the street when you drive past someone,” he said.
“There were other people on the road — it’s not a dirt road.”
Tasmania police launched the largest search operation in the north of the state last Wednesday following a tip from the public.
The search included two sites, including 50 square kilometers of bushland near Nabowla, about 50 km northeast of Launceston.
A specialist cadaver dog was brought over from New South Wales for the search.
Gordon was shocked that the state did not have its own trained dog to assist in searches.
“Tasmania should get sniffer dogs on a regular basis so we can get information faster,” he said.
“It would be good if Tasmania got one.”
Shyanne-Lee’s remains (above) were found last Wednesday at the Scottsdale property owned by 36-year-old Christopher Jordan.
Christopher Jordan (above) has been charged with murder and is expected to appear in court on August 16
Police allege Jordan killed Shyanne-Lee at his Scottsdale property (pictured, police search the property)
Shyanne-Lee’s remains were discovered on Wednesday at the Scottsdale property owned by 36-year-old Christopher Jordan.
Police will allege that Jordan encountered the 14-year-old the night she disappeared – April 30, took her to his property where he killed her before dumping her body 15 miles away in remote bushland.
It is not yet known if Shyanne-Lee had any previous interactions with Jordan.
For the two weeks leading up to her disappearance, the teen stayed at the Malana Youth at Risk Center, run by the non-profit Youth Family and Community Connections.
It is understood that she previously lived with her grandmother in her hometown, Burnie – on the north coast of Tasmania, after moving out of her childhood home.
On the night she disappeared, Shyanne-Lee was walking from downtown on Brisbane Street to a friend in the suburb of Ravenswood, 2.7 miles away.
Her latest sighting, captured on CCTV, shows her walking alone through the dark on an industrial road toward the Henry Street bridge.
Jordan made a brief appearance in Launceston Magistrates Court on Friday but did not plead a single murder charge.
He has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court on August 16.
Jordan was charged with murder after Shyanne-Lee’s remains were found near his property (pictured, police retrieve evidence from Scottsdale estate)
Jordan was a stranger in Shyanne-Lee’s family – it’s unknown if the teen had prior contact with him (pictured Shyanne-Lee with her mother, Bobbi-Lee Ketchell)