Dear Rachelle investigation: Investigators highlight similarities in fish and chip alibi of key suspect in Rachelle’s murder

Eerie similarities between alibis for two unrelated crimes have investigators pondering if the evidence provided by the key suspect in Rachelle Childs’ murder is true. Listen to the podcast.

Investigators were struck by the detailed similarities of fish and chips orders provided by Kevin Steven Correll in his alibis for two unrelated crimes 18 years apart.

After the death of Rachelle Childs in 2001, Mr Correll told police that he ate fish and chips in the hours that she disappeared on the night of June 7, 2001.

He also told investigators after the break-in and assault of a woman in her home in Darlinghurst in 1983 that he was eating fish and chips at the time of the afternoon assault.

Mr Correll told police at that time that he had ordered a battered sav, a bag of chips, a piece of fish and a loaf of bread.

For the 2001 case, he told police that he ordered a battered sav, a bag of chips, a fish cake and a Coke.

Detective Inspector Mick Ashwood said it “stands out to you” that the sameness of the alibis “could be manufactured evidence”.

LISTEN TO EPISODES 1-7 OF THE PODCAST BELOW:

Mr Correll’s 2001 alibi involved a number of stops across dozens of kilometres.

He said he went shopping in Campbelltown, NSW, before going to the Picton home of his partner, who was not home at the time.

He said he then drove about 10 minutes south, to Tahmoor, where he ordered fish and chips, before returning to his partner’s home.

He then went to his home, in Camden, he said, about a 20-minute drive to the north.

His alibi could not be verified and Mr Ashwood described it as “highly suspicious”.

WATCH: VIDEO ON KEY SUSPECT’S PHONE TOWER PINGS BELOW

Mr Correll’s partner later testified that Mr Correll did not mention eating fish and chips during a phone call that night, but did speak of plans to get pizza for dinner.

Mr Correll was the last remaining person of interest at Rachelle’s coronial inquest.

Counsel assisting the coroner at Rachelle’s inquest, Peter Singleton, said the similarity of the alibi details might be a coincidence.

He also said that it was not unknown for suspects to “fall back on a comfortable alibi that’s worked for them before”.

Mr Correll, then known as Kevin Cornwall, was acquitted of various assault charges for the 1983 case.

He has not responded to questions in relation to Rachelle’s killing from the Dear Rachelle podcast but has previously denied any involvement.

He was the last remaining person of interest at an inquest into Rachelle’s death, which delivered an open finding.

Rachelle drove home to Bargo, to the south of Picton, after she left work at Camden Holden – where she worked with Mr Correll – on June 7.

Her burning remains were found after 2am that evening on the roadside of Gerroa, a beach town about 100km away.

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: Investigators highlight similarities in fish and chip alibi of key suspect in Rachelle’s murder