Retired detective and Teacher’s Pet cop Damian Loone answers 16 questions about Rachelle Childs’ murder

Teacher’s Pet cop Damian Loone has joined the family of a murdered woman to answer 16 questions about Australia’s most perplexing cold case. Listen to the podcast, see the video.

Retired detective and prominent investigator Damian Loone has joined the family of murdered woman Rachelle Childs to answer questions about Australia’s most perplexing cold case, featured in the Dear Rachelle podcast.

At a Q&A with Rachelle’s sister Kristy Childs, and investigative journalist Ashlea Hansen, Mr Loone and gave his expert opinion in response to 16 of the most pressing audience questions to arise out of News Corp’s podcast juggernaut, which has amassed more than 1.8 million downloads since it launched in March.

Asked about how vital evidence could go missing in a murder investigation, Mr Loone said unfortunately it “does happen”.

“And it is highly frustrating when an exhibit goes missing,” Mr Loone said.

Upgrades from manual to electronic storage systems had greatly improved police processes, he said.

Other listeners asked the panel why experts were certain Rachelle knew her killer.

She was the type of girl that didn’t take any risk,” Mr Loone said.

Ex detective and cold case specialist Damian Loone and Rachelle Childs sister Kristy stand with Rachelle's Commodore in regional NSW. Picture: Jeff Darmanin

“She was a bit carefree, but she wasn’t silly. And she was going to meet somebody there at the Bargo pub.

“Now, had it raised any concerns with her, she would have told somebody. And I just believe that she would’ve known her killer.”

Mr Loone is referring to the line of investigation that Rachelle was going to meet someone at the Bargo Hotel on the night she was killed.

Her sister Kristy believes the Bargo Hotel wasn’t somewhere Rachelle had ever been.

“I don’t believe she ever went in there. I don’t believe she ever wanted to go there,” she said.

“The person who she went to meet, we feel either killed her or had something to do with her death or knows what happened to her. Because yes, she didn’t actually meet up with anybody that she knew after work and we didn’t have anyone come forward saying that Rachelle never arrived.”

Bargo woman Rachelle Childs whose burning body was found at Gerroa on Thursday June 8, 2001. Picture: Supplied

Listeners were most interested in hearing about forensic evidence, including how Rachelle’s car and belongings were examined, and what the killer’s motivation was.

For answers to 16 of the most pressing audience questions, including whether Rachelle’s killer might have known she was alone, and what happened to her beloved bulldog Rolfie, listen to the latest bonus episode:

LISTEN TO THE DEAR RACHELLE PODCAST EPISODES BELOW:

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].

You can also join our Dear Rachelle podcast Facebook group.

Originally published as Retired detective and Teacher’s Pet cop Damian Loone answers 16 questions about Rachelle Childs’ murder