Cop’s shock discovery at Rachelle Childs’ crime scene

Teacher’s Pet detective Damian Loone went back to Crooked River Rd and made a shocking discovery where Rachelle Childs’ was murdered. LISTEN TO EPISODE 3 OF THE PODCAST NOW.

Rachelle Childs’ killer planned to dump her in a water tank but couldn’t remove the heavy concrete lid so burnt her body instead.

High profile detective Damian Loone said the murderer would have had personal knowledge of the in-ground tank, but quickly realised it was too shallow and its lid too “thick”.

He returned to the 2001 crime scene for the latest episode of the Dear Rachelle podcast and was shocked to find the replacement plastic lid at the scene in Gerroa, south of Sydney.

“Here it is here. That’s been covered in. Looks like the original concrete lid’s been taken away. And this is like a hard plastic. Diameter’s right, circular,” he said.

Former Detective Sergeant Damian Loone with journalist Ashela Hansen make a shocking discovery at site where Rachelle Childs’ remains were found burning.

Former Detective Sergeant Damian Loone at Rachelle Childs’ crime scene.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: WHY KILLER CHANGED THEIR PLANS

The retired Detective Sergeant, who was pivotal in helping convict Lynnette Dawson’s killer through the Teacher’s Pet podcast, said that hasty decision to set Rachelle alight ultimately eradicated any DNA evidence left on her body.

Inside a tank, near where Rachelle Childs’ burning remains were found.

LISTEN TO EPISODES 1-3 OF THE PODCAST BELOW:

Plus: Look out for a bonus episode of the podcast on Monday.

FBI-trained criminal profiler Kris Illingsworth agreed the murderer decided on the fly where to leave her, as he had probably not expected to kill the 23-year-old.

“I think probably the tank was just, look, there’s a tank. I wonder if she’ll fit in there,” she said.

“Because to me, this is a location of haste. I don’t think there’s much planning in this part. So this is more like haste. Have a look. Doesn’t work.

“The plan to open the tank didn’t work. And as we know now, even if he had gotten it open, there wasn’t enough room to put her in there anyway.

“So the fire was, like, another option.”

For more information about our investigation, visit dearachelle.com.au

If you have any tips or confidential information, please contact investigative journalist Ashlea Hansen at [e-mail].

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Originally published as Cop’s shock discovery at Rachelle Childs’ crime scene