Dear Rachelle investigation: Concerns were raised about creepy men in Rachelle’s life before she was killed

Rachelle Childs had raised concerns about various men just before she was murdered, including one who said something that didn’t sit quite right with her childhood friend. Listen to the podcast.

Rachelle Childs expressed concerns about creepy older men in her life in the weeks before she was killed and set alight in 2001.

She told friends about one man who was “sleazy”, “handsie” and “always trying to hit on” her.

Nine men became persons of police interest after the 23-year-old’s burning body was discovered in Gerroa, south of Sydney, more than 100km from the last confirmed sighting of Rachelle hours earlier.

The unusually high number included a bikie, a colleague, an ex-boyfriend and a love interest.

Best friend Lisa holds her diary as she mourns Rachelle. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Rachelle Childs was found at Gerroa on Thursday June 8, 2001.

One of them was her next door neighbour in Bargo, who sent her flowers even though he was married.

Bruce, in his early 30s, worked with cars. In her final months, Rachelle would sometimes watch TV motorsport at her house with him.

His close contact and romantic overtures meant he was a leading person of interest to investigators immediately after Rachelle’s death.

LISTEN TO EPISODES 1-4 OF THE PODCAST BELOW:

Suspicions deepened when his alibi conflicted with the accounts of others, and he was seen to get into a heated argument with his father after a police interview.

Bruce moved interstate soon after Rachelle’s death and police sought to reinterview him about Rachelle’s final days.

A friend who played sport with Rachelle told the Dear Rachelle investigation that Rachelle had complained about a male associate who made her uneasy.

Rachelle did not name the man, who “made her feel uncomfortable at times, especially if they were alone”.

Rachelle was killed in what was thought to be a sexually-motivated attack on Thursday, June 7, 2001. Her final hours remain unaccounted for.

Lisa says Bruce would turn up at Rachelle’s house out of nowhere. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Lifelong best friend, Lisa, said Bruce would turn up at Rachelle’s house, which she shared with sister Kristy, “out of nowhere”.

He loaned Rachelle a jerry can because she was always running out of petrol.

The jerry can was in the boot of her car when it was discovered in the Bargo Hotel carpark after her death.

“I think he gave her attention and she liked that,” Lisa said. “But I don’t think she was remotely interested in him.”

Another close friend alluded to another older male in Rachelle’s life from whom Rachelle hid aspects of her private life.

“I think that he may have said some stuff to her that, you know, ‘I hope you’re not meeting up with any fellas’ … it just didn’t sit right with me.”

Of the same man, Lisa said: “I think she probably articulated this, but he had a crush on her.”

“Men loved her, because she just had that personality; warm, friendly and gorgeous soul,” Lisa said.

“And she was into guy stuff, so that was a winning recipe for all of them. She was attractive, bubbly, friendly and funny.”

Some of the nine persons of interest were not eliminated from investigations because their alibis for the night of Rachelle’s death could not be verified.

Yet most of them, including Bruce, would be cleared of suspicion at a coronial inquest which began five years after she died.

Bruce’s wife told the inquest that she was woken in the early hours of June 8 by him in their bedroom.

LISTEN TO THE BONUS INVESTIGATION UPDATE EPISODE HERE

If true, Bruce could not have been in Gerroa at the time that Rachelle’s body was set alight.

Bruce, who was approached for comment, always cooperated with investigators.

He flew back to Sydney after moving interstate to assist the investigation, and he supplied police with his DNA.

Rachelle Childs was described as warm, friendly and a gorgeous soul.

Other cleared men at the inquest included a young man whom Rachelle had met up with and kissed on the night before her death.

He and Rachelle texted or called one another 31 times in the last three days of Rachelle’s life.

Rachelle broke up with her long-term boyfriend Shane in about March, 2001, when he left her rented Bargo home.

The break-up was difficult. He did not want the relationship to end.

“I still think about her a lot. It’s tough,” he said.

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].

You can also join our Dear Rachelle podcast Facebook group.

Originally published as Dear Rachelle investigation: Concerns were raised about creepy men in Rachelle’s life before she was killed