Was Rachelle Childs lured to her death by a rare Walkinshaw Holden Commodore

Investigators believe Rachelle Childs – who was wild about cars – could have been lured to her death by the promise of getting to drive a rare Holden Commodore. Watch the video and listen to the podcast.

Was Rachelle Childs lured to her death by the promise of an exclusive Holden Commodore?

Some investigators believe the car-as-lure theory could be integral to understanding how and why the used car saleswoman was killed in 2001.

In her final days, Rachelle had giddily told friends and family that she would have the use of a Holden Special Vehicles VL SS Group A, popularly known as a Walkinshaw, for the upcoming long weekend.

In her final days, Rachelle Childs was excited to have the use of a Walkinshaw. Pictured is a 1988 Holden Commodore VL Walkinshaw SS Group S Sedan (build No. 479).

The car, she said, would be arriving at her Holden dealership workplace. In the weeks after her death, it emerged that no Walkinshaw was due to come in to Camden Holden.

Rachelle’s boss Kevin Correll had previously allowed Rachelle to take home cars from the yard.

EXPLAINED: WHAT IS A WALKINSHAW

Car lover Rachelle Childs was killed in June, 2001.

She had shared her excitement about the Walkinshaw with her father, sister and friends.

She had invited Lee, a casual romantic interest, to go for a drive on the upcoming long weekend in the Walky.

LISTEN TO EPISODES 1-5 OF THE PODCAST BELOW:

On the day of her death, Rachelle had said she was going to the Bargo Hotel that night, but it seems unlikely that she entered the pub.

Her 1978 Holden Commodore was found in the pub’s carpark the day after her burning body was discovered in Gerroa, about 100km to the south.

Rachelle Childs with late racing legend Peter Brock.

Counsel assisting the coroner for the inquest into Rachelle’s death, Peter Singleton, spoke about the car-as-lure theory on the Dear Rachelle podcast.

“An obvious line of inquiry to explore was could she be going to the Bargo Hotel to meet up with someone to go and drive that Walkinshaw,” he said.

“You might think that she would just wait until it was in the yard and take it for a drive. But it wasn’t she who was organising it. Someone else she understood was organising to get this car into the dealership. Whoever was doing that would have been in a position to say to her, ‘You’re not going to be able to drive the car while it’s on the yard, but I’m going to have it the day before. So come and meet with me and we’ll go for a drive’.”

Mr Singleton emphasised that the theory was speculative, that it fitted some facts but remained unproven.

Former NSW detective Damian Loone said that Rachelle was wild about all Holdens, but especially the Walkinshaw.

“Was it a fictitious Commodore or was it real?” he asked.

“Was it some way that was going to be delivered to her or did she have to go somewhere to go and get it?

“And was she lured to the Bargo Pub on a pretence of that being organised?”

Former forensic psychiatrist Dr Julian Parmegiani, who consulted for the Crown Solicitor’s office for Rachelle’s inquest, said the Walkinshaw theory could be critical.

“There’s enough evidence that she (Rachelle) told others that she was going to drive a Walkinshaw on that weekend, that she was very excited about it,” he said.

“Now who promised the Walkinshaw? Their relationship with her needs to be needs to be determined closely.”

Only 750 Walkinshaws were built. As a collectable, they can now sell for more than $500,000.

A coronial inquest was held into Rachelle’s death. The coroner made an open finding at the end of the inquest.

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].

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