Allecha Boyd: Sister Rhiannon of murdered woman after killer leads police to remains

The family of Allecha Boyd have spoken about the emotional moment they learned her remains had been found in in the Lester State Forest three years after she was killed.

The remains of Wagga woman Allecha Suzette Boyd were found on Tuesday, three years after she was shot and buried in a shallow grave. Picture: Facebook

After 1216 days of waiting, Allecha Boyd’s sister Rhiannon Boyd, finally got the phone call she had longed for.

On Tuesday, Riverina police detectives called Rhiannon to tell her that her sister’s killer, Samuel Shepard, led police deep into the Lester State Forest near where remains were found in a shallow grave, believed to be those of her beloved 27-year-old sister.

“It‘s been a really big day that’s for sure,” Rhiannon said.

“It‘s bittersweet and all emotions at this stage.

“We’re all in disbelief still and just so thankful we finally have some sort of closure,” she said.

Police searcing for the remains of Allecha Boyd after she was shot and buried in a shallow grave in 2017. Picture: NSW Police

Rhiannon thanked the community, authorities and media for their continued support since Allecha’s horrific murder in 2017.

“I appreciate all your support and well wishes with this long journey you guys have been along with us,” Rhiannon said.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, it means the absolute world to us,” she said.

Allecha’s Aunty, Cheryl Hoskin, said the discovery meant Allecha could finally come home.

“We are happy and sad as we now know that she is coming home to be laid to rest,” Cheryl said.

“We’re sad as it’s so final now.

“As for the police, they have done a great job because they never gave up looking for her,” she said.

Rhiannon and Tammara Boyd make an impassioned plea to help find their 27yo sister Allecha. Picture: Matthew Burgess / WIN News

Rhiannon set up a GoFundMe page yesterday to help cover the cost of bringing Allecha’s body home.

“We have always had no intentions of starting a GoFundMe account as we thought (were told from the start) that the costs of getting Allecha home when she was found would have been covered from victims of crime,” Rhiannon said on the GoFundMe page.

“Unfortunately that has proven to be untrue and now we are left to try come up with funds to bring her home from NSW to Melbourne, so she can be laid to rest like we have been wanting to do for the past three years before she was found.

“In this instance, all we are asking for is a beautiful send off for our dear Allecha like she deserves,” she said.

The discovered remains will be transferred to Newcastle to be formally identified and if they are Allecha’s, they will then be flown to her family in Melbourne.

“We have estimated her funeral buying a plot, coffin, flowers, and everything else that comes with the funeral is looking at about $15,000,” Rhiannon stated on the page.

“If anyone is able to help contribute towards this, no amount is too small or will go unappreciated,” she said.

Allecha Suzette Boyd, aged 27, was last seen at a supermarket on Gurwood Street, Wagga Wagga in the early morning on Thursday 10 August 2017. Picture: Facebook

Riverina Police Superintendent, Bob Noble said the discovery was a relief for police.

“It‘s been a long journey and one that has been a painstaking process for police over a period of three years,” Superintendent Noble said.

“We are looking forward to hopefully positively identifying those remains and putting some people‘s minds at ease.

“We have conducted a significant number of searches and we would have continued to keep going until such time. until we needed to,” he said.

Superintendent Noble said Samuel Sheppard, the person who shot and killed Allecha on a dirt road near Coolamon in 2017, was taken to the forest for the second time on Tuesday to help locate her remains.

“The principal accused in the matter assisted police yesterday,” Superintendent Noble said.

“And ultimately it was information he provided us yesterday that led to that location.”

Search images. The remains believed to be of Allecha Boyd, 27, who was shot three or four times by Samuel John Shephard on a dirt road in Coolamon located in forest near Wagga Wagga, Picture: NSW Police,

Supt Noble said police were ready to go home for the day on Tuesday but decided to take one last look at the area they were searching.

“It‘s a great source of relief for police,” he said.

“Not so much satisfaction, certainly no joy, but this is one of the reasons people join the police force and when you get a result like this it makes it worthwhile.

“The grave was relatively shallow at a depth of around 300 millimetres.

“But deep enough so it wouldn't be easily discovered or disturbed.”

He said Allecha’s family were extremely appreciative of the efforts of police.

“Our investigators have stayed in touch with them constantly since the time Allecha went missing and continued to build a rapport with that family,” he said.

Allecha’s killer was sentenced to 27 years and 7 months in prison earlier this year.

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