A girl is dead. A man is missing. Their mothers speak out.

A girl is dead, and a man wanted for questioning in relation to her case is missing.

And the two mothers – of the girl, and of the man – have both spoken out.

French student Sophie Collombet, 21, was found dead on the banks of Brisbane River 12 days ago.  Her naked body was found in Kurilpa Park.

She had been bashed to death.

The police in Brisbane believe she was walking home after a night class at Griffith University’s Nathan campus, leaving after 8.30pm, when she was attacked. She is believed to have been attacked somewhere around the William Jolly Bridge, when she walked along the riverside boardwalk.

The man wanted for questioning over her death is 25-year-old Benjamin James Milward. At the weekend, QLD Detectives released CCTV footage of the man, boarding a train at South Brisbane at 11.23pm on the night Sophie Collombet was murdered.

But Milward is still missing.

The parents and family members of Sophie Collombet and Benjamin James Milward have spoken out about their suffering.

Mrs Collombet told News Limited that getting the call from Australian authorities confirming her daughter’s death “was difficult”.

She said haltingly, “We still can’t believe it, we thought ‘it can’t be true, it’s not true, it’s not real,’ we still can’t believe it has happened.”

Her brother, Guillaume, remembered his sister as very adventurous.

“She was an adventurer, very curious and loved travelling. She had friends everywhere,” he said.

Mr Collombet was grateful from the support his family had received, both in France and Australia. He explained:

“The French embassy, the policemen, the [Brisbane] Town Hall people, everybody in Australia has done absolutely everything that is possible to help in any way… There is a website made for us in Australia where people have been posting messages and they get translated into French. French people living in Australia offer support, many people. The problem now is to get her back as soon as possible.”

The mother of Benjamin James Milward, 50-year-old Diane, has also spoken out.

“We love you Ben, please come home,” she said. “Why don’t you call us to sort it all out? It’s for Sophie’s family. They need to know.”

Diane believes her son is innocent, and is worried about members of the public getting the wrong idea.

“The longer it goes on, the more people are starting to believe: ‘He must have done it’. I don’t believe he is guilty for a minute. He’s not really the monster that is being portrayed.”

Ms Milward explained that she had not had contact with her son for a few weeks, and expressed grief for Sophie’s family.

“I’m just so sad for Sophie and her family… I don’t believe he has done it… I just think it’s a matter of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has just made a few wrong choices,” Diane said.

The mothers of both Sophie Collombet and Benjamin James Milward are clearly distraught.

A girl is dead. A man is missing.

And both of their mothers are waiting for answers.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.