When Paul Warren first visited the tropical paradise of Tofo, Mozambique, in 2018, his heart was heavy but his adrenaline was "pumping". It was there in 2016 that his daughter, aspiring marine biologist Elly Warren, was found dead, partially naked her T-shirt ripped, her underwear down near her knees - and her throat jammed with sand. Local police called it an overdose.
Retracing the final days of his daughter, who had gone to Tofo for a volunteer ocean research mission, Paul visited the beaches Elly swam at, the ramshackle bar where she gathered in the sultry evenings with friends, and the beachside lodge where she stayed.
But the most painful part of his pilgrimage was stepping onto the hard dirt ground outside a public toilet block, a short stroll from Tofo's main beach and its endless roll of waves. It was there that the body of his 20-year-old daughter was discovered face down by a local fisherman at dawn on November 9, 2016. Paul knew the precise location because the fisherman had taken a photo of the young woman in situ, and the man's nephew had sent the photo to Paul for a modest - if not sensitive - fee of 200 meticals (about $5).
"The first time I walked up and saw where Elly's body had laid," begins Paul, before his voice catches and he stops. Taking a breath, he starts again. "Imagine if you're a father and if you've seen that photo, and you knew your daughter's body was lying there... it was hard, it was really hard."
The pain of losing his "adventurous and intelligent" daughter has been exacerbated by a local investigation that first called Elly's death an "overdose", and what he claims to be a lack of proactive involvement on the part of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) the authority that can assist investigators in foreign jurisdictions in crimes against Australians.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SHANNEN DOHERTY
The rebellious actor died in July after a nine-year battle with cancer. Zara Wong looks back at the legacy of a woman who always lived on her own terms
IN THE WILDS OF ALASKA
Nature served up a spectacular array of delights, while cruising the majestic waters of the far north.
Back to EARTH
In its earliest days, the farm bred draught horses for export. Now Tasmania's 1840 cottage Leighton House has been restored as a glorious getaway
ODE to LIGHT
Created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian in 2011, Elie Saab's Le Parfum has since gained a cult following and become an industry icon. Here, Sally Hunwick uncovers the origins of the stunning chypre floral scent
JEN ATKIN
The Ouai beauty guru is regularly called on by the Kardashians and a host of other A-listers. Here, she talks about hair, her beauty cupboard and how she keeps up her energy levels
A NEW DIRECTION
When she was 16, Jordan Lambropoulos told her surgeon she'd rather die than wake up with a colostomy bag. Today - 10 years, countless operations and 14,000 Instagram followers later - she's proof that a colostomy bag is not the end. In fact, it can be the beginning of a whole new life
LADY LUCK
Rosalía takes her accessories as seriously as she takes her art. The Spanish musician spent three years working on her much-lauded album Motomami, finessing the details and perfecting the finishing touches. And when it comes to her outfits, she's no less specific
Wait... superhero movies are cool now?
Who had Emma Corrin and Juno Temple as supervillians on their 2024 bingo card?
CURTAIN CALLING
Brisbane-born star Vidya Makan steps into the shoes of America's founding mother in the long-awaited return of Hamilton
LEIGH-ANNE
The English singer on colourism, freedom and reuniting Little Mix