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Queensland school girl death: Foster father to be charged with her murder

Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father Rick Thornburn will be charged with the murder of the 12-year-old schoolgirl, after he and his wife Julene were arrested by homicide detectives today, police say.

The ABC reports that Thornburn arrived at Logan police station in handcuffs just before 11:30am today. His wife Julene Thornburn arrived at the police station separately a short time later.

A short time ago, Detective Inspector Damien Hansen emerged from the police station to tell the media Thornburn would be charged with murd

Earlier today, homicide detectives arrested four people in connection with the murder investigation.

“A woman aged 54, as well as three men aged 19, 20 and 56 were taken into custody by officers attached to Operation North Mizzen — a joint Homicide and Logan District investigation,” a police statement said.

“All four are known to each other and were located at various addresses in Logan.”

The ABC said in its report that the two younger men also arrested are related to the Thornburns.

The arrests came shortly after police confirmed Tiahleigh’s foster father was the former owner of a car seized by police last week.

The 12-year-old’s body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River last November, almost a week after she vanished.

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