The 20-year-old blonde was last seen on July 23, 2008, after she was dropped off near the old paper mill, now Bunnings, on the Bass Highway.

She was pregnant and left behind a two-year-old son.

No one has seen or heard from Ms Munnings since, and in 2012, a coroner found she was most likely dead.

RELATED: Coroner finds Helen Munnings is dead

“Helen was beautiful and she adored her son,” her mother, Karel Black, said.

“She loved him. Everyone thought Helen was nice. She was too nice.”

Coroner Robert Pearce could not rule out murder or suicide, but said there was not sufficient evidence to find either of those scenarios to be the case. 

He found Ms Munnings died on or around the date she was last seen, in the Burnie area.

Ms Black said the inquest findings had given her hope that she might get answers.

“We were hoping that because the coroner found that Helen was deceased, that it would change from a missing person case to a murder case and that would give them more clout,” she said.

During the inquest, three possible scenarios were raised to explain Ms Munnings’ disappearance – murder, suicide, or alive and living in the Northern Territory.

RELATED: Three options for fate of mum

The coroner ruled out the scenario that she was living in Darwin, but did not rule out murder or suicide.

The inquest heard the father of Ms Munnings’ baby, Adam Taylor, was the primary suspect in her assumed death, and that he had been out on his boat the night she disappeared.

However, while Mr Pearce did not rule out murder, he did not make a finding that she was killed.

“One of the issues raised during the inquest is whether I should find that Mr Taylor is a person who contributed to the cause of Ms Munnings' death,'' he said.

“The evidence does not justify such a finding.

“I should not lose sight of the fact that, despite an extensive police investigation, there is no scientific or forensic evidence that supports a finding that Mr Taylor contributed to the death of Helen Munnings.”

Mr Pearce recommended Tasmania Police keep the investigation open.

But the hope Ms Black had at the conclusion of the inquest has been fading.

“It’s just hell,” she said.

“Nothing has happened since the inquest. You just feel like you’re going to lose your grip. It’s so frustrating.”

Ms Munnings and Mr Taylor first met in 2004, when she was 16 and he was 30. He was in a long-term relationship with another woman.

“Differing versions were given to the inquest of the nature and extent of the relationship between Mr Taylor and Helen Munnings over the following period of about three years,'' Mr Pearce said.

Ms Munnings was pregnant again at the time of her disappearance, most likely to Mr Taylor, the inquest heard.

He was the last person to see Ms Munnings alive. He picked her up about 4.15pm the day she disappeared, and said he dropped her off on the highway about 6pm.

“One scenario that might explain Helen's disappearance is that she took her own life,” Mr Pearce said.

“Helen was a young person facing a number of factors that would be stressful for her.

“The evidence does not justify a finding that she took her own life ... However, in the absence of another explanation, it remains a possible reason for her disappearance.”

RELATED: Missing woman's ex agitated, inquest told

Mr Pearce made no formal recommendation or comment in relation to Ms Munnings' death except to indicate that the police investigation should remain open.

“Further evidence may become available.”

Ms Munnings’ family is gathering on Sunday, the anniversary of her disappearance, at her grandmother Julie Payne’s house.

“Mum’s 80 this year and she’d like to know what’s happened to Helen,” Ms Black said.

“We are still waiting.”

RELATED: Police cautious about Helen Munnings investigation

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said there was still an active investigation.

She urged anyone with information to call police on 131 444, or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.