The Childs’ family have not given up hope of finding the killer responsible for Rachelle Childs’ murder 13 years ago

13 years have passed since Rachelle Childs was brutally murdered. On the anniversary of her death, her father says not a day goes by when he doesn’t think of her.

THIRTEEN long years have passed since the brutal and unsolved murder of Bargo woman Rachelle Childs sent shock waves through Macarthur region but her parents still hold out hope that her killer can be found.

Rachelle’s parents, Graham and Ann, have since relocated to the north coast from Glenfield, but there’s not a day that they don’t think of their beautiful and vibrant daughter.

“I’ve had to learn to live without having my baby in my life,” Mr Childs said.

POLICE STILL SEEK INFORMATION ON RACHELLE CHILDS MURDER

He said he kept in contact with police on an irregular basis, but conceded it was very much a cold case without new information.

Graham Childs holds a press conference in 2006 outside Glebe coroners court.

“I’m just hoping that someone comes forward and says something or remembers something,” he said.

“Or the perpetrator makes a mistake … that’s what we are hoping for. The police exhausted all avenues of investigation at the time.

“Without physical evidence, it’s where it is.”

Mr Childs said his family would never have closure over Rachelle’s murder.

“It’s a terrible word, we can never have closure. You learn to live with it,” he said.

“Even if we found the person who did it, we would close just a little bit of it with the who and why. That’s the two things you always ask — who could do such a thing to a beautiful young life?”

Mr Childs said his worst nightmare would be the police ringing to say they’d found Rachelle’s murderer because he’d killed again.

“That would be the worst thing ever,” he said.

Police performed DNA testing of locals outside Bargo Hotel, in 20003 in effort to track down killer of Rachelle Childs. Pic Troy Bendeich. NSW / Crime / Murder

The murder was pushed back into prominence last week when it “randomly” appeared on the homepage of the NSW Police Force.

An item featuring a photo of the beautiful 23-year-old reminded the public of the 2011 decision to double the reward to $200,000 to anyone providing information that would lead to a prosecution for the murder of the young woman.

A post on the Macarthur Chronicle Facebook page proved Ms Childs’ was not forgotten. Far from it.

The item had more than 53,000 views and 420 shares.

The community is still appalled by the murder of the young woman in the prime of her life and share the ongoing grief of her family.

Rachelle’s sister Kristy (left) leaving court the coroners court in 2006 with mum Anne and dad Graham Childs. The family still haven’t given up hope of finding their daughter’s killer.

And, just as importantly, they are still as keen as ever to see the perpetrator brought to justice.

On July 7, 2001, after finishing work at the Camden Holden dealership, Ms Childs headed to the Bargo Hotel to meet someone.

In the early hours of the following morning, her charred body was found in a shallow ditch in national park near Gerroa on the South Coast. She was just 23.

Despite exhaustive investigations, no one has ever been charged with the murder.

A police media spokesman emphasised investigations were ongoing.

“There has been no further updates, but the reward still stands,” he said.

“We are still appealing to the public for information to help us find those responsible for Rachelle Childs’ death.”