Kristy Childs vows to continue her father’s efforts to find Rachelle’s killer

Kristy Childs was just 18 when her sister Rachelle was murdered and set alight on the side of a road. Years later, on their father’s deathbed, she vowed to find her sister’s killer.

The sister of murder victim Rachelle Childs promised her father on his deathbed that she would never stop searching for her killer.

Kristy Childs was just 18 when her sister Rachelle, 23, was murdered, and found set alight on the side of a road in Gerroa, about 100km away from their home in Bargo, in June 2001. Their father Graham took an active role in the police effort to find his daughter’s killer.

Watch the video on the Dear Rachelle investigation above.

Kristy Childs, sister of murdered Bargo woman Rachelle Childs, promised their father she would find her sister’s killer.

Graham fronted press conferences, spoke with detectives, wrote countless letters and appeals to police, government bodies, and anyone he thought could help solve the mystery of Rachelle’s murder.

He also helped train police about how to speak with victims’ families, and once offered police to write a $100,000 cheque to prop up their resources for Rachelle’s investigation.

Graham Childs, with daughter Kristy and wife Anne, front media outside of Glebe Coroner’s Court following the death of his eldest daughter Rachelle.

Graham, Kristy and Anne Childs at their home on NSW’s South Coast in 2002.

Former detective inspector Mick Ashwood has met a number of families of murder victims who were left frustrated by stalled cases.

He said Graham was an “intelligent man, very sensible, very passionate”.

Rachelle Childs with parents Graham and Anne, and sister Kristy (left) in undated copy of a family photo. Picture: Michael Perini

Rachelle Childs, pictured here in an undated photo with her father Graham, died in June 2001. Her killer has never been found.

Rachelle Childs’ sister Kristy Childs and their father Graham. Kristy promised Graham on his deathbed that she would carry on his mission to find Rachelle’s killer.

But in 2021, he was almost incapacitated and dying with a brain tumour.

Kristy went to visit him for the last time. She didn’t know if he could hear her, “but I said to him that I’ll find him. I’ll get him. And I’m not going to let it go.

“So I promised him … I kind of just took the baton.”

LISTEN TO EPISODES 1 AND 2 OF THE PODCAST BELOW:

Her mother, Anne Childs, said: “Half my family is now gone (Rachelle and Graham).”

“Graham was always stoic and had faith Rachelle’s killer would be caught. But he’ll never see that day.”

Anne Childs has lost half her family, with husband Graham and daughter Rachelle having died. Picture: Adam Yip

She said she trusted Kristy’s determination to make good on her pledge to Graham.

“She’s taken the bull by the horns. She won’t give up,” she said.

“How Kristy fits it all in with her busy life as a single mum and assistant principal is beyond me. I do know, she’s like a dog with a bone.

“I reckon Chelle and Gra are up there looking down on us with big smiles on their faces. They’d be so proud and cheering us on”.

Since Graham’s death, Kristy has asked about case exhibits, advocated for them to be forensically tested again due to advancements in technology, and asked for private viewings of security footage.

“We need the public to give us a hand,” she said.

“One tiny piece of new information. Or if someone grows a conscience.”

For more information about our investigation, visit dearachelle.com.au

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