Police offer $500,000 reward in Leslie Ralph Ball cold case 30 years since his disappearance

Police have announced a $500,000 reward for information which could help them crack a 30-year cold case, where a father disappeared without a trace in North Queensland.

Police have announced a $500,000 reward for information which could help them crack a 30-year cold case, where a father disappeared without a trace in North Queensland.

Leslie Ralph Ball, 71, was reported missing by his family in May 1993, but police believe he was met by foul play after his car was found abandoned at Townsville Railway Station and his trailer full of belongings burnt out in bushland.

But Mr Ball’s body has never been found, and two coronial inquests have failed to determine how Mr Ball died despite claims his son-in-law confessed to a friend he’d done the killing.

On Tuesday, Queensland Police announced a $500,000 reward for information which could help them solve the case and lead them to the killer.

Mr Ball’s daughter, Le-Chelle Ball, hoped someone would come forward to bring their family peace.

Leslie Ralph Ball

“Almost 31 years after my father’s death, it would mean everything to know what happened and have some closure,” Ms Ball said.

“We ask anyone who knew my father, if you know what happened to him, if you know something, speak to police.”

Cold Case Investigation Team Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said there are people out there who know what happened.

“Leslie’s disappearance was out of character and he had upcoming plans in life he was looking forward to with the purchase of a house in Cardwell,” Detective Kentwell said.

“A $500,000 reward is now in place for information that may lead to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for Leslie’s disappearance.

“Any information no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, could be the key to bringing closure for Leslie’s family.”

■ Complete list of Queensland’s missing persons from AFP

Le-Chelle Lesley, daughter of missing man Leslie Ralph Ball

Mr Ball was a World War II veteran living with his one of his daughters, Leanne Phillips, and her husband Dave Phillips, in Townsville at the time he disappeared in April, 1993.

He was reported missing by his other daughter, Le-Chelle Lesley, in May 1993 when he never showed at a planned visit a few weeks later.

Mr Ball was preparing to move to Cardwell and had already paid a deposit on a property when he vanished.

The first inquest into Mr Ball’s death began in 1994 – where Mrs Phillips said she last saw her father at a Brisbane hospital on April 21, 1993.

A train ticket from Townsville to Brisbane was purchased in Mr Ball’s name a few days earlier, but it was found to be a fake. Mr Ball never boarded his train.

Mr Ball’s Valiant sedan was then found at the train station, and burnt remains of his trailer and belongings were found a few kilometres from the Phillips’ home.

Leslie Ball's car was found abandoned at Townsville Railway Station.

The Coroner couldn’t determine what happened to Mr Ball, but two further reviews were conducted by homicide detectives in the following years where fresh evidence was found.

This evidence – which related to claims of a confession – prompted the Attorney-General to call another inquest in 2019.

A friend of Mr Phillips, Brian Murphy, gave evidence at the second inquest that Mr Phillips confessed to killing his father-in-law.

The rail ticket from Townsville to Brisbane which police determined was a fake.

Mr Murphy said Mr Phillips admitted to bashing him “unmercifully” in a shed after claiming he’d been sexually involved with another family member.

“He (Mr Phillips) said, ‘I got him in the shed, told him what I knew, then bashed the sh*t out of him,” Mr Murphy told the court.

“I thought he was bulldusting, big-noting himself or telling lies for the pleasure of it.”

Mr Murphy said Mr Phillips then claimed to have recruited someone who looked like Mr Ball as a front to trick the neighbours before killing him, and burying Mr Ball.

Mr Phillips died in 2015 of natural causes.

Leslie Ball disappeared from Townsville in 1993.

The Coroner at the second inquest made a finding Mr Ball was dead, but said there was “insufficient” evidence to say how he died, or pin his death on anyone.

The Coroner also believed Mrs Phillips held a “mistaken belief” that her father visited her in hospital.

Detective Kentwell urged anyone with knowledge of Mr Ball’s movements between April 18 and 19, 1993, to contact police.

Leslie Ball had packed up his life in a trailer and was getting ready to move to Cardwell. The trailer was found burnt out in bushland after he went missing.

The $500,000 Queensland Government Reward is for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this murder.

The Government reward further offers an opportunity for indemnity against prosecution for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the murder, who first gives such information.

Originally published as Police offer $500,000 reward in Leslie Ralph Ball cold case 30 years since his disappearance