Questions over police investigation into Eden Westbrook’s death after revelations of disgraced senior sergeant

One of the senior policemen who oversaw Eden Westbrook’s death investigation subsequently died by suicide amid allegations he was a notorious paedophile.

The last family photo of the Westbrooks before Eden’s death: from left, Bobby-Lee, Chase, Hunter, Eden, Justine, Skye, Tim, Amanda, Dontay and Jason.

The senior policeman who oversaw Eden Westbrook’s death investigation subsequently died by suicide amid allegations he was a paedophile.

After his death in 2018, it was revealed that Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds was also facing allegations he’d stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from his mother’s bank account.

Child sexual exploitation allegations against the former police inspector, who had been demoted a few years earlier in 2012, were substantiated by explicit messages to young boys discovered in mobile phone records – according to an inquest held late last year.

Eden’s parents have always questioned the investigation into their daughter’s death, arguing foul play should not have been ruled out.

Police Inspector Paul Reynolds – subsequently demoted to Senior Sergeant – depicted during the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster. Picture: (AAP Image/Dale Cumming)

They say CCTV footage of the 15-year-old the night before her death in February 2015 was never provided to the coroner, and that a number of key witnesses were never interviewed.

But now, with revelations about the officer’s character who provided “oversight and direction” to the police investigation, their concerns have been bolstered.

“A report’s as honest as the person that wrote it. And how honest is Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds, given what we know about the disgraced police officer now?” Eden’s father, Jason Westbrook, said.

“Anything that man put his name to should be reinvestigated.”

Tasmania Police has denied any wrongdoing in the investigation.

Eden Westbrook, 15, was deemed to have died by suicide in the Tasmanian east coast township of St Helens during 2015. But new evidence has come to light that she may have in fact been murdered. Picture: Supplied

In a separate point of concern, Eden’s parents were also contacted by a woman who said their daughter was potentially being sexually groomed “by a powerful man” before her death.

On the night of her death, Eden had stormed away from home after an argument over the use of her mobile phone.

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Her parents, Jason and Amanda, have raised concerns about an image Eden might have sent to a young boy could have gotten into the wrong hands – of adult men.

Tasmania Police confirmed it had received the allegation concerning Eden’s death.

A spokesman said the matter was the subject of a coronial investigation that “included the circumstances leading up to Miss Westbrook’s death and referred to the competency of the police investigation”.

“We recognise the lasting emotional toll that remains with them and the broader community,” the spokesman said

They said the coronial investigation was conducted by St Helens Police and provided to the Coroner.

The sexual grooming allegations have been reported to Tasmania’s child sexual abuse commission of inquiry.

Originally published as Questions over police investigation into Eden Westbrook’s death after revelations of disgraced senior sergeant