13 May 2023 , 09:07
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The discovery of a young girl's remains has reopened questions about a missing teen who vanished without a trace 15 years ago.
Amy Fitzpatrick, 15, who was from Dublin, disappeared on New Year's Day 2008 after her family moved to Mijas Costa, near Fuengirola in Spain.
Amy had been living with her mum Audrey, stepdad Dave Mahon, and her brother Dean who has since passed away.
One of the most important elements of the recent discovery, which happened last week, is the age of the bones.
Amy's hopeful aunt Christine Kenny told reporters that investigators believe the body "has been there for over a decade", which would put them in the timeframe of the Irish teen's disappearance.
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The skull and bones were found in a suitcase in the hills of Mijas, which was where Amy lived with her family.
Amy Fitzpatrick's mum Audrey Mahon (Irish Mirror)Christine, who believes the remains belonged to her niece, says that initial pathologist examinations of the bone structure indicate that the deceased was between 25 and 30 years of age.
But she added that "it takes ages for that type of thing to be dealt with".
Perhaps the key clue is that the body was found with a satchel, one of a "similar-type" to the one Amy had when she was last seen.
Christine has been putting pressure on the Irish government to lobby Spain to pile more resources into the search.
Amy's aunt Christine celebrating her 30th birthday in a memorial garden (Image By Mick O’Neill..)Amy spent New Year’s Eve in 2007 with her friends, Ashley and Debbie Rose, near her Spanish home.
She left the Rose household at around 10 pm on New Year’s night to walk a few minutes back to her home but never returned.
Amy was not officially reported missing until January 3 and no trace of the teenager has ever been found.
Amy and Ashley FitzpatrickHer best friend Ashley and her mother Debbie said the teen detested stepfather Dave Mahon - the man would later go on to kill her only brother in May 2013, according to DublinLive.
Ashley and Debbie said at the time that Amy always carried her phone with her and even had it on the night of her disappearance.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
But her device was found during a search of the apartment she shared with her mum and stepdad.
It has never been established how the phone got back to the property if Amy was abducted on her way home that night.