Dear Rachelle investigation: Most haunting aspects of horrendous murder case

A young woman was brutally murdered 24 years ago — her body dumped in a bush and set on fire. Her killer has never been found. These are the haunting details that keep those close to the case up at night. Listen to the podcast.

The killing of Rachelle Childs has vexed investigators for 24 years, since her body was found on fire 100 kilometres from her home in Bargo, south of Sydney.

The Dear Rachelle multimedia investigation, launched earlier this year, has triggered an avalanche of community interest, moved those to speak who had stayed silent, and thrown up many fresh leads. For now, the bigger truth remains maddeningly unclear.

We ask some of the main players of the 15-episode podcast – that has soared to the top of the charts in Australia – which aspects of Rachelle’s case keep them awake at night.

Murdered Bargo woman Rachelle Childs’ burning body was found at Gerroa on Thursday June 8, 2001

Person of interest in the murder of Rachelle Childs, Kevin Steven Correll.

Ashlea Hansen, host of the Dear Rachelle podcast

Journalist Ashlea Hansen and retired detective Damian Loone.Picture: Julian Andrews

I’m haunted by the fact that a person who Rachelle trusted turned into a monster, and the fear that would’ve overcome her in that moment.

She was excited about the upcoming long weekend. She had so much to look forward to.

I can understand why it haunts Kristy and Anne. That’s what keeps me up at night, thinking about the moment when she realised she was in grave danger.

Another thing is that we still don’t know what the hell happened in the hours after she left work that day. The whole night, the final nine hours until her remains were found, is still mind-boggling. There are so many possibilities and variables and missing pieces.

I’m really pleased that we have now got some of those pieces that we didn’t have because of the Dear Rachelle podcast.

New witnesses are coming forward, and that’s what it’s going to take to solve this case.

I feel the pressure and responsibility of sharing the stories of innocent people, who carry deep regret about personal circumstances which were out of their control.

Some people have felt like they can no longer remain silent.

If this is the last story I ever do, I’m okay with that. I’ll keep asking questions. I’ll keep investigating.

Because it’s not right that this injustice has gone on this long. I’ve made a commitment to the family. I’m not going to let them down.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST DEAR RACHELLE PODCAST EPISODES BELOW:

Damian Loone, ex-detective who helped crack Teacher’s Pet cold case

Ex-detective and cold case specialist Damian Loone talks about the murder of Rachelle Childs, whose burning body was found at Gerroa in June 2001. Picture Jeff Darmanin

What keeps me up at night is the way Rachelle was murdered and the way she was disposed of.

She was dumped on the side of the road, half naked, and then burnt.

I just can’t believe that someone could be that callous.

For goodness sake, how do you explain how she was found to the parents and Kristy?

The amount of violence really disturbs me. It’s like she’s just been discarded like a piece of rubbish.

Former Detective Sergeant Damian Loone at the site of Rachelle Childs’ murder with journalist Ashlea Hansen.

The lost CCTV footage (police seized service station footage on relevant routes on the night of the killing, then misplaced most of the footage) frustrates me the most, along with the lost police exhibits.

The fact that the Bargo Hotel (where Rachelle’s car was discovered) was not canvassed until some weeks after was a major mistake. It should have been done very quickly. Why wasn’t that place canvassed the day after her body was identified?

The podcast is giving the community a voice. Someone somewhere will contact you, and they may well have that piece of the jigsaw that we need.

Journalist Ashlea Hansen talking to former detective Damian Loone about the unsolved murder of Rachelle Childs.Picture: Julian Andrews

LISTEN TO EARLIER DEAR RACHELLE PODCAST EPISODES BELOW:

Mick Ashwood, Former NSW detective inspector who reviewed Rachelle’s case

Mick Ashwood, Former NSW detective inspector who reviewed Rachelle Childs’ case. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

It’s the fact that Rachelle’s family has been let down by some critical errors by the police initially in the investigation.

I still wonder what could have been done to fix it – it keeps me awake, along with the wish that the case could be solved.

The main issue was the failure of the investigation management. A number of people in the chain of management failed to ensure that the right person was leading it, that milestones were reached, that there were proper planning risk assessments.

There were a whole range of management issues. I don’t understand why they occurred because those processes had been put in place for about three years at the time of Rachelle’s passing.

Normal investigations have review points. The police exhibits weren’t processed properly, and alibi witnesses weren’t followed up correctly or in a timely manner.

It was just a litany of problems. I despair that a young woman passed away, but also about the way her family was let down afterwards.

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].

You can also join our Dear Rachelle podcast Facebook group.