Rachelle Childs’ murder: Prime suspect’s death could flush out new leads for NSW police

Teacher’s Pet cop Damian Loone reveals why the sudden death of Kevin Steven Correll in a hotel room in Thailand is not the end of the search to find Rachelle Childs’ killer.

Exclusive: The mysterious death of the key suspect in Rachelle Childs’ baffling cold case may actually help the police investigation, according to Teacher’s Pet cop Damian Loone.

The former detective said Kevin Steven Correll’s sudden – and unexplained – death in a hotel room in Phuket, Thailand, has removed the “fear” factor for potential witnesses – and could flush out new leads.

“If someone was in fear of saying something to police because of reprisals, perhaps that threat has been eliminated now and they should come forward,” Mr Loone said.

Kevin Correll, pictured here being questioned by investigative journalist Ashlea Hansen, has died in Thailand. Picture: Julian Andrews

Mr Loone said he was “stunned by the news” Mr Correll had died but said there could still be other targets – and arrests possible.

“If Kevin Correll has gone to the grave with a dark secret, it’s a travesty of justice for the Childs family,” Mr Loone said.

“If others were involved, then there’s still hope they could be charged.”

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NSW Police on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to the investigation into Rachelle’s 2001 murder, despite Mr Correll’s passing.

“The investigation into the death of Rachelle Childs remains ongoing under Strike Force Telap,” a police spokesman said.

Police say they remain committed to the Rachelle Childs cold case.

Retired detective Damian Loone. Picture: Julian Andrews

Police did not answer questions about whether they knew Mr Correll had died, whether they were in contact with Thai authorities, or whether they still believed Rachelle’s murder could be solved.

No one has ever been charged over her death, despite a lengthy police investigation and coronial inquest that ran for two years.

Kevin Correll leaving Coroner’s Court in Sydney in 2001.

Police quietly reopened the investigation into Rachelle’s case in January, but her family only found out in March due to enquiries by News Corp.

In May, it was revealed that police applied to increase a financial reward for any information about her murder that leads to a conviction.

The reward was doubled to $200,000 in 2011, but it hasn’t moved since – despite ongoing requests from the Childs family.

Last year, Rachelle’s sister Kristy wrote to NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley to ask her why the case remained unsolved, and to ask if police could lift the reward money to $500,000.

Kristy and Anne Childs look at photos of Rachelle at Anne’s home. Picture: Adam Yip

The minister never replied. Her spokesman previously told this masthead: “The Minister has no role in setting rewards.”

Police were said to be enhancing CCTV service station footage from the night of Rachelle’s murder.

The last nine hours before Rachelle’s burning body was discovered in Gerroa – more than 100km from her home in Bargo – have remained clouded in speculations.

It is still unclear if her Holden VB Commodore was used for the journey.

Rachelle’s car was found in the carpark of the Bargo Hotel.

The position of the driver’s seat – and the placement of the club lock – suggested it was very unlikely that Rachelle was the last person to drive her car.

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 Rachelle Childs’ murder: Prime suspect’s death could flush out new leads for NSW police