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Teenager found dead after meeting new Facebook friend

MANUEL MITTERNACHT, ALICIA WOOD

May 16, 2010

NONA Belomesoff was offered what she thought was a dream job working with the New South Wales Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES). Instead she was allegedly lured to her death by a man she befriended on Facebook, who claimed to work for the animal welfare group.

As Christopher James Dannevig, 20, faced a murder charge at Parramatta Bail Court yesterday, Nona's loved ones spoke of how her devotion to animals led to her death.

Outside the family's home in Cecil Hills, her brother, Gary, 20, said his 18-year-old sister's goal since childhood was to work with animals.

She was taking an animal studies course at TAFE and was delighted when Dannevig, whom she met on Facebook, offered her work experience at WIRES.

''He said he worked there and he could get her a job there,'' Gary said. ''She loved animals and she saw this as an opportunity to follow her dream of helping animals.''

Gary said Dannevig told her that they would have to join another animal carer on an overnight camping trip to Campbelltown to research habitats.

''She said she was going camping to look for injured animals,'' Gary said. ''Nona said if she didn't go she would lose her job and this job was her dream. So she just went and that was the last time we saw her.''

Nona had arranged to meet Dannevig at Leumeah railway station on Wednesday morning. When she had not returned as planned on Thursday morning, the family contacted police. ''I got into her Facebook account where I found the guy's name,'' Gary said. It was Gary who went to police with his concerns.

Nona's body was found near Waminda Oval at Campbelltown on Friday night. Her body was clothed, but police have refused to confirm the cause of death.

Early yesterday policed charged Dannevig, of Leumeah, with her murder.

Homicide squad team leader Detective Inspector Russell Oxford told a media...