Kim McRae: Coogee sex worker death, neighbour’s fresh sighting
New information has come to light over the suspicious death of a Coogee woman, with her neighbour claiming to have seen her three days after police say she was spotted for the final time.
Southern Courier
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Mystery surrounding the death of a Coogee sex worker has deepened with the woman’s neighbour claiming she saw her three days after police say she was last seen alive.
Police launched an appeal on Friday calling on the public to help piece together information surrounding the suspicious death of Kimberley McRae, 69.
Ms McRae, who also went by the names Sabrina, Isabella and Samantha, was found dead in her Mount St apartment last Tuesday (January 14).
Police said she was last seen alive on Tuesday, January 7 – a week prior to her body being discovered.
Phone records also show her mobile was in use for the final time the following day, Wednesday, January 8.
However, her neighbour, who has asked not to be named, told the Southern Courier she saw her on Friday, January 10.
She said she was “almost 100 per cent sure” she spotted her on the Friday.
“I told police that I am almost 100 per cent sure I saw her on the Friday, out near the bins.”
Police have launched a murder investigation into the suspicious death but no arrests have been made.
The neighbour said Ms McRae had only been living in the apartment for about six months.
She described her as friendly and said she had never caused any trouble.
“She has two good friends, male friends. One younger about 35 to 40 and the other one was about 70 and they would come around quite often.
“The older guy rang on my door by mistake (when she was first moving in) and he said a famous publisher is moving in next door.”
She said she was surprised to hear Ms McRae was 69 as she only looked about 50 in person.
Since the incident, the neighbour explained she was much more careful going out of her apartment, often asking her husband to check outside first.
On Monday, police again stated anyone with information should come forward.
“There have been no arrests as yet. However, detectives are continuing to investigate and they appeal for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” a police spokesman said.
NSW Police Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said Ms McRae was well known in the community, lived alone and did not own a car but regularly exercised around the area.
“She was known to run along the foreshore and Coogee stairs in the evenings,” he said.
“Kim had a distinctive personal style and distinctive features.
“We are very keen to speak to any friends, associates or anyone who may have had contact with Kim over the previous two weeks.’’
When asked if the incident was being investigated as a hate crime, Det Supt Doherty said “we are treating this as the death of a woman”.
“The circumstances of her death and the crime scene would indicate that she was killed in her unit.”
A man who lived above her at her previous unit block for 12 years, also on Mount St, said she was “a very nice person, just different”.
“You never heard a bad word against her.
“If you speak to anyone on the street they will tell you the same thing.”
He added she was an author and he believed she was a performer of some kind that went by the stage name Sabrina.
A post mortem examination was conducted on Thursday, with further tests needed to examine the cause of Ms McRae’s death.
Timeline:
Tuesday, January 7: Ms McRae seen alive at her Mount St apartment.
Wednesday, January 8: Ms McRae’s mobile phone is used for the final time.
Friday, January 10: Ms McRae’s neighbour claims she saw her alive at their apartment block.
Tuesday, January 14: Ms McRae’s body found inside her apartment.
Friday, January 17: Police appeal for help to piece together her final movements.