Tiahleigh Palmer's biological mother has called for her daughter's death not to be in vain, in her first major public statement in months.
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Tiahleigh 'forever an angel'
Cindy Palmer says a "piece of my heart is missing" after the alleged murder of her daughter Tiahleigh. Nine News
Cindy Palmer thanked police for their "tireless" work throughout the 11-month investigation into her daughter's alleged murder, saying the time had come to get "justice for Tiahleigh".
"My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel," Ms Palmer said.
"I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing.
"I have done my best to help keep Tiahleigh's case in the spotlight and I thank all of my supporters for helping me do so.
"I want to not let Tiahleigh's death be in vain. The time has come to get justice for Tiahleigh and I ask everyone to let the judicial system work."
Cameras clattered as a massive media contingent crammed into the Logan District Police Headquarters awaiting her short statement of thanks.
The tribute came as police revealed the 12-year-old's foster mother, Julene Thorburn, had hired a lawyer before her family was arrested on Tuesday.
Homicide squad Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said police spoke to Mrs Thorburn and her lawyer before hauling the rest of the foster family in for questioning but would not comment on whether a "deal" had been made.
He said there was evidence of things being burnt at the Thorburn family's Chambers Flat property, where police were seen bagging evidence earlier on Friday, but said that wasn't uncommon on a rural property.
Mrs Thorburn's husband, Richard, was charged with the Logan schoolgirl's murder and interfering with a corpse and she was charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Thorburn collapsed in the police watchhouse hours after charges were laid on Tuesday and was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and placed in an induced coma.
Inspector Hansen confirmed he'd been transferred to the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and said police were considering questioning him again through his lawyer.
"He hasn't spoken to us," he said.
The detective wouldn't go into what evidence had been discovered at the Flesser Road property or its importance to the investigation but confirmed police were on the lookout for Tia's missing backpack and school uniform.
"We're looking for all evidence in relation to it. If it's there, we will look for it," he said.
"The backpack is still outstanding. The school uniform is outstanding. We will be looking for it at that address."
Both items formed a key part of detectives' early investigations into Tia's alleged murder.
Trent Thorburn, 19, is charged with committing incest to Tiahleigh days before her alleged murder on October 29 last year.
He was refused bail in a 45-minute hearing despite his defence solicitor arguing he had no criminal history and faced a longer wait for trial than a potential sentence he could receive.
Police will allege his father, who originally told police he dropped Tia at school the next day, killed the girl at the family home to cover up his son's alleged crime.
On Wednesday, the Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard allegations a Facebook Messenger exchange with the 19-year-old's cousin showed him admitting to having sex with his foster sister on the Monday before she was allegedly killed.
Inspector Hansen said the alleged exchange had been deleted and was only recovered this month, adding that Facebook had been contacted about access to accounts early in the investigation.
Tia's body wasn't found until November 5, when fishermen discovered her naked on the banks of the Pimpama River on the northern Gold Coast, hours after a missing person's alert was issued.
The delay in putting the alert out sparked widespread changes to the way authorities dealt missing children in care and the charges levelled against her foster family led to a review into blue cards and foster carer approval.
Joshua Thorburn has also been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice and is due in court on October 10 along with his mother.
Trent Thorburn's case is due before the court again in November and his father's in December but neither are required to appear.
Inspector Hansen said there was no likelihood of further or upgraded charges at this stage.