A teenage girl sends a chilling Facebook message saying she needs help.
Moments later she is found unconscious with severe head injuries on the side of a road.
Left for dead.
This happened south of Wollongong in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The police have been investigating the possibility that 17-year-old April-Lee Gillen was the victim of a hit-and-run but a Facebook message she posted moments before she was supposedly hit has now cast doubts on what actually happened to her.
The teenager was walking along Northcliffe Drive at Lake Heights when she posted this status update.
Not long after the post, April-Lee Gillen was found unconscious, suffering life-threatening head injuries.
Her sister, Kimberly, posted on Facebook that April-Lee is “in ICU on life support bleeding from her brain and not breathing on her own. She may have been abused or hit-and-run between 12.30 and 1.30.”
Neighbours reported hearing a loud noise and there are unconfirmed reports that video footage exists of the incident. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that another person wrote on Facebook that neighbours had provided “vital video surveillance of the event” to the police and “this low life scumbag will be caught and sent to jail”.
“April’s father and his family have been long-time friends of mine of some 40 years, and it was devastating today to find out who the victim actually was. And all because she refused a lift from the Asian guy that stopped first and told her that she would be safer in their car than walking on the sidewalk.”
Inspector Steve Worthington from Lake Illawarra Police told the ABC that authorities are particularly keen to speak with the man mentioned in April’s Facebook status update.
“That is certainly vital information our detectives are following up. But until we can speak to April herself, we need further information from the public,” he said.
According to the ABC, the police are still treating the incident as a suspected hit-and-run but they have not ruled out other possibilities.
Her family has thanked the public for their support as April-Lee lies in hospital.
“She’s still in a pretty bad way,” Inspector Gordon Dunlop from Lake Illawarra police told Seven News.
“She is going to survive but the extent of the injuries to her brain is still uncertain.”
Anyone who may have information about the event is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Top Comments
We do not know the facts. I remember just a week or two ago reading the comments on this site about the little girl kidnapped on Queensland, allegedly because of her parents "drug debt". the facts went on to debunk that allegation, but my goodness many commenters on here had those parents drawn and quartered.
I hope the young woman recovers and wish her family all the best, this must be a terrible time. I also hope that the facts of the evening emerge.
The parents admitted to drug debts and drug use - it was just that that didn't turn out to be the reason for the girl's kidnapping. Those facts (and the source of the criticism) weren't debunked.
No one is saying they know all the facts - they are specifically acknowledging it's unclear what happened, or whether she was abused or hit and run.
You know there is the possibility the Asian guy had seen someone following her and was legitimately trying to help...?
It's a possibility... But why would a teenage girl get into a strangers car late at night? We've been told our whole life not to get into a strangers car. Sadly, there's no way of telling if someone is trying to help, or if someone is trying to trick you. I wish I could accept the kindness of strangers but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
But if he "stopped" her she was obviously in the process of going somewhere still. Also, she said he tried to get her to "come home with him", which is fairly specific. It sounds like she refused to get in the car and got beaten or something.
Poor girl, what a horrific situation.
Possibly but I don't know any girls that would hop into a car just because a they are told to by a total stranger at night.
I don't think it was fairly specific. I doubt she was directly quoting him, he may of said "let me take you home" which could be taken either way.