Twenty years after the murder of his son Daniel, Bruce Morcombe says “it’s time to move on”.
Since December 7, 2003, Bruce and Denise Morcombe have been collecting documents related to Daniel’s death and the subsequent investigation that led to the conviction of his killer Brett Peter Cowan 11 years later.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bruce Morcombe’s emotional act on 20th anniversary of Daniel’s death.
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That cache of documents — including police reports, maps, transcripts and website print-outs — has now been destroyed by fire at the hands of Bruce.
“A lot of it’s disturbing material,” he told 7NEWS.
“I’ve probably had a gutful of all the records, all the files we’ve kept.
“It’s time to move on.
“Particularly, I’m trying to protect our family, and the grandkids especially.
“It was never their fight. It was mum and dad’s fight and I think we did a bloody good job.”
His and Denise’s work around Daniel’s legacy through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation will continue because there are still “vulnerable” children in the community.
“Daniel’s legacy is really about making sure mums, dads, the police, the carers, everybody out there who have a role in looking after our kids, are available to listen to kids who might have a story to tell,” he said.
Daniel was 13 years old when he was abducted from a bus stop near his Sunshine Coast house and murdered by Cowan.