Person involved in Meaghan Rose cold case declared missing

There’s been a fresh twist in a decades-old suspected murder mystery, just hours after a $500k reward for new information was announced.

An elderly man, connected to the cold case mystery of a woman whose body was found more than two decades ago, has been declared missing just hours after a half-a-million dollar reward was announced for new information.

Meaghan Rose, originally from the Victorian town of Morwell, was found at the base of the Point Cartwright Cliffs in Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on July 18, 1997.

Detectives with Queensland Police spoke to a 70-year-old man in relation to the case on Sunday and his car was found abandoned in the southwest coastal Victorian town of Portland on Monday, with Victoria Police officers searching the area.

Police put out a missing persons alert for the 70-year-old on Tuesday evening, just hours after Queensland Police announced an offer of a $500,000 reward to help them solve the suspected cold case killing.

Meaghan Rose was last seen in 1997. Her death, originally believed to be by suicide, is now believed to be suspicious. Picture: Aisling Brennan / NCA NewsWire.

Neither Victorian or Queensland police have revealed how the 70-year-old is believed to be connected to the case. However, the Courier Mail is reporting the man is the former partner of 25-year-old Ms Rose.

He was last seen on Hood Street, Portland, about 9am Monday; his silver Holden Captiva was found at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse carpark about 5.30pm. He has not been accused of any crime.

He’s described as having a medium build, is around 170cm tall, and has grey receding hair.

Sightings or information should be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

On 18 July 1997, the body of 25-year-old Meaghan Rose was located at the base of Point Cartwright cliffs on the Sunshine Coast.

Today, a $500,000 reward was announced for information which leads to the conviction of those responsible for her murder.

🔗 https://t.co/l5ySeMH1c9pic.twitter.com/xCmrcFuIQE

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) June 27, 2023

Originally believed to be a death by suicide by police, the case was reopened in 2019.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said police had begun a review of Ms Rose’s death after new evidence came to light in 2022.

She confirmed police were now investigating her likely murder.

Sergeant Kentwell said while there had been no arrests, police were appealing for information from anyone who knew Ms Rose at the time of her death.

Fiona Ratcliffe, the younger sister of Meaghan Rose, says she’s grateful police are now investigating her sister’s death. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

She confirmed a life insurance policy had been taken out for Ms Rose in May 1996 totalling $200,000.

The policy was not to be claimed within 13 months of it being approved.

Ms Rose died just a few weeks after that period.

It’s welcome news from the young woman’s family, who for nearly 26 years have always believed foul play was at hand the day she died.

Ms Rose’s younger sister, Fiona Ratcliffe, said her sister moved to Queensland to be with her partner and his son.

“My sister Meaghan was a fun-loving bright young woman who was close to her family,” Ms Ratcliffe said.

“ She worked hard to achieve her goals she set out for.

“She’d bought her first car, bought her first home and had moved interstate to a place she always wanted to be.

“She always had a caring nature about her.”

Ms Ratcliffe urges anyone with information about her sister’s death to come forward. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Ms Ratcliffe urged anyone with any information to contact police to help the family find closure.

“We’ve always had a theory but we need the public to help,” she said.

“It would mean the world. Unfortunately, my father has passed away and my mother has level 4 dementia

“There’s another two siblings, we were very close as a family.

“We’ve always suspected it wasn’t a suicide.

“I ask that if anyone has any information to please come contact police.”

A coroner found that Ms Rose had died from multiple injuries after falling 40m down the cliff.

Her body also had a recorded blood alcohol reading of 0.148.

Meaghan Rose was located deceased at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs at Mooloolaba on July 18 1997. Picture: QLD POLICE

Sergeant Kentwell said Ms Rose’s partner had told police at the time of her death that he’d last seen her in their Marcoola unit about 7.15pm on July 17, 1997, when he offered her a warm drink before leaving the room.

She said the man had told police he’d returned to the room about 8pm to find Ms Rose no longer there.

The next day a member of the public spotted a wine cask on a seat and a glass on the grass at the top of Point Cartwright before discovering Ms Rose’s body below.

“We’re particularly appealing to members of the community who knew Meaghan around the time of her death, many of whom live at the Sunshine Coast and Victoria, to think back and provide any information about her no matter how irrelevant they think it may be,” Sergeant Kentwell said.

“A number of lines of inquiry are being examined as we speak, and while we cannot go into detail around investigative strategies to ensure the integrity of the case, we are confident this reward will bring forward vital information,”

Meaghan Rose’s white 1995 Suzuki Chino hatchback, with registration 415DNN, was found in the Point Cartwright carpark. Picture: QLD POLICE

As part of their investigation, police are also appealing to anyone who might have seen Ms Rose’s white 1995 Suzuki Chino hatchback, with registration 415DNN, or anyone who was in the vicinity of Point Cartwright on the evening of July 17, 1997.

Ms Ratcliffe said it had been “frustrating” for the family that the police never took their concerns about Ms Rose’s death seriously, but they were now grateful for the chance of the investigation being reopened.

Ms Ratcliffe said her sister, who worked in the disability sector in Marcoola, was always independent and family orientated.

Ms Ratcliffe says her elder sister was always a big part of their family. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

She said the two sisters were excited about Ms Ratcliffe moving to Queensland a week after Ms Rose’s death.

“We were best friends, Meaghan was a big part of her family even being interstate,” Ms Ratcliffe said.

“She was always being a part of what was happening, but now she’s missed so many important events with the family.

“She would have been right there in the middle helping out having her own option and suggestions.”

Sergeant Kentwell said police were wanting to speak with anyone with any information about Ms Rose’s death.

“It’s never too late to come forward, people who were once scared might not be now time has passed,” she said.

“It’s not known how the car arrived to the base of Point Cartwright.

“We know there are people out there who knew Meaghan or know what happened at the night of her death.”

Originally published as Person involved in Meaghan Rose cold case declared missing