When 12-year-old Nakita Bull said goodbye to her mum at a rural property in Caboolture, she never imagined it would be the last time. Sandrine Jourdan, 37, disappeared later that day in July 2012, and despite her personal belongings being found near a secluded front gate, no trace of her has ever been found. What started as a missing persons case was quickly closed by police, who labelled it likely suicide. Now, more than a decade later, her family is leaning on artificial intelligence (AI) and renewed public attention to uncover insights that can lead to the truth and gain some closure on what they believe really happened.
“It is inconceivable to us that she would have taken her own life”
For over a decade, Nakita, along with her siblings Sam and Jessie, have continued the quest for answers.
Nakita said, “My mother was a loving and devoted parent, and her whole world revolved around us children.” She added, “It is inconceivable to us that she would have taken her own life.”
Sandrine was known for writing detailed journal entries right up until her disappearance, and she had recently completed a healing course to address her mental health. Despite her struggles, the family emphasises she was planning for the future and in no way prepared to walk away from her children.
Clues missed, questions unanswered
Sandrine had been visiting John Bim’s property in Caboolture that day. It was secluded, set on five acres, surrounded by thick bushland and wetlands. John told police he left for motocross around 5:30 p.m., just minutes after Sandrine walked toward the front gate. He claimed she was gone by the time he drove down.
A neighbour, Jan Martin, told investigators she heard three loud gunshots on the property that day. She says she reported the noise to police, but there’s no record that her report was followed up.
Six months later, Sandrine’s ex-partner received a four-page letter in the post. It was signed by someone named Rosetta Bunton — a person no one in the family has ever known or found. The letter was personal, cruel, and included specific knowledge of the family that raised serious alarm. It implied that Sandrine was unstable and promiscuous, though psychologists later described the tone as character assassination rather than insight.
Even more unsettling was what came next.
In 2015, three years after her disappearance, a private investigator working for the family found items of women’s clothing at the back of a neighbouring property, just three doors down from where Sandrine was last seen. The clothes matched what she was reportedly wearing that day: black pants, a purple top, and a handbag. They were wrapped in plastic and carpet, discovered after floods had shifted debris across nearby properties.
The police dismissed the items as unrelated. The family says they were never given a proper chance to view them. Eventually, the evidence was destroyed.
Technology steps in where the system left off
Frustrated by dead ends and what they believe was a rushed conclusion, Sandrine’s family has turned to new tools. A new podcast, AI Investigates: Sandrine Jourdan, is now re-examining the case using artificial intelligence.
In the first episode, aired 14 July 2025, host Rachael Vickers explains how AI tools flagged inconsistencies in the statements of people Sandrine interacted with just before she vanished, including gaps in timelines and contradictions in witness accounts. Natural language processing is also being used to compare Sandrine’s handwritten journals with the tone and phrasing of the anonymous “Rosetta Bunton” letter, which was sent to her ex-partner months after she went missing. Analysts are checking whether the letter’s language matches anyone known to the case.
Digital forensics experts also examined Sandrine’s laptops — one of which contained encrypted software typically used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. A second device revealed access to a website previously flagged in human trafficking investigations. This kind of activity, revealed through AI-enhanced scanning, added disturbing new dimensions to the case, particularly given Sandrine’s expressed fears that she was being followed or targeted.
The team behind the podcast argues this isn’t science fiction or sensationalism. These are tools now being used in fraud, counterterrorism, and even health systems, applied here to a rural Queensland case once dismissed as “just another suicide.” For Sandrine’s family, AI is not a miracle fix but it’s a way to get questions asked that were never even considered in 2012.
This tech-driven approach follows years of groundwork laid by retired detective Graeme Crowley. His podcast, Bring Home Sandrine, first drew national attention to the case. He’s been working closely with the family and other experts to revisit key pieces of evidence.
Public pressure mounts for answers
An episode of Under Investigation with Liz Hayes, which aired to an audience of over 1.1 million viewers, prompted renewed calls to Crime Stoppers and gave the family its most significant exposure to date. Nakita said the program helped open doors they had been knocking on for years.
With growing support, the Queensland Coroner’s Court has reopened Sandrine’s case and is considering whether enough new information exists to justify a full inquest.
Nakita has launched a petition on Change.org, calling for further investigation and public backing. The family’s message is simple: they are not looking for blame. They are looking for the truth.
“This year marks 13 years since she went missing, 13 years of sleepless nights and unanswered questions. My mum deserves justice, and with your support, we may be able to make this happen.”
Published 14-July-2025
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