Baby killer Rick Cataldo identified as Thornlands fatal crash victim
The troubled final months in the life of baby killer Rick Cataldo have been revealed by an insider, after the convicted baby killer was killed in a fiery crash south of Brisbane.
Redlands Coast
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​​The troubled final months in the life of baby killer Rick Cataldo have been revealed by an insider, after the convicted baby killer died in a fiery crash south of Brisbane.
According to the source — who asked not to be named — Cataldo, who spent almost four years in jail after brutally bashing his “defenceless” seven-week old daughter and crushing her skull, had only been out on parole before his death, following reported parole violations.
In 2017, Cataldo was sentenced to eight years’ jail for the manslaughter of his daughter Lily Rain however was given immediate parole eligibility because he had already spent three years and 10 months in presentence custody.
A Parole Board Queensland spokesperson said Rick Cataldo was last released to board ordered parole in July 2021.
It is believed Cataldo had a history of drug use after being arrested in February, 2017 after he tried to punch his father when he took his son’s drugs away.
He had also faced court in Redcliffe a little more than a month before his death.
Cataldo pleaded guilty in Redcliffe Magistrates Court on April 4, 2023 to driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle and using plates that were stolen, lost or damaged on November 29, 2022.
Cataldo represented himself in court and was fined $1200 and given 28 days to pay.
It is also understood Cataldo had a troubled upbringing after growing up in the foster system.
The source described Cataldo as someone with “demons inside him” but someone who could be a good person.
It is understood Cataldo had launched a small nursery business in the months following the death of his daughter, Lily Rain Cataldo, named in her memory.
‘Beautiful Lily Rain. RIP we miss you,” a post on the business’ Facebook page read in August 2012.
“Feel free to share this page to any friend you believe that would support this worthy cause. I would like to donate money to SIDs and Kids eventually so please help spread the word. RIP Lily Rain,” another post in October read.
The post was responded to with words from Lily’s grieving mother Michelle Leask, who was also sentenced to a non-custodial term after pleading guilty to one charge of manslaughter in relation to Lily’s death.
Cataldo, who was living in Thornlands in Redland City but had previously lived in Moreton Bay, died after his blue Holden Commodore went up in flames when it crashed into a power pole on Cleveland Redland Bay Rd around 10.40pm on May 15 — one week after the 11th anniversary of his daughter’s death.
The 35-year-old was the sole occupant of the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash, which left about 1000 homes were left without power for several hours.
The scene of the crash was “confronting” according to local residents who said Cataldo’s car was “wrapped” around the pole.
Cataldo, a former pizza delivery driver originally from Burpengary, was convicted and sentenced to eight years after he fractured daughter Lily Rain’s skull on April 29, 2012 with at least one blow to her head.
She died nine days later from head injuries after Cataldo refused to allow his defacto partner Michelle Catherine Leask to take Lily to hospital.
Those lies included telling them “I dropped Lily and she hit her head” before later telling his partner “tell the hospital that the bruises” were “from you getting her tangled up in the seatbelt getting out of the car and you accidentally dropping her”.
It was also revealed in court his daughter had six fractures to her skull on both sides and the back of her head and an injury to her brain stem and spinal cord which almost reached the degree of force found in “baby shaking” cases.
She also suffered a spiral fracture to her arm and rib fractures likely to be caused by “crushing” or “compression to the chest”.
Paediatric neurologist Geoffrey Wallace told police Lily probably would have survived if appropriate treatment were given.
His death comes after spending more than three years and eight months in prison for the manslaughter of his daughter before being released on parole.
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