Dear Rachelle investigation: New photos of key suspect in Rachelle’s murder

New photos and footage have emerged of Kevin Steven Correll – the main suspect in the 24-year-old murder of Rachelle Childs. See the video.

EXCLUSIVE: A murder suspect was working as a responsible service of alcohol officer at a busy leagues club until a podcast investigation publicly connected him with the 2001 crime.

Kevin Steven Correll, who was one of the last people to see Rachelle Childs alive before her burning body was found in Gerroa, NSW, served as the RSA marshal at The Entrance Leagues Club on the NSW Central Coast until March this year.

In his role, the Vital Security Group contractor worked with staff, including young females, often chaperoning them to their cars at the end of their shifts in the early hours of the morning, and helped drunken patrons home.

Kevin Steven Correll, who is a prime suspect in the murder of Rachelle Childs, is pictured here working as the RSA marshal at The Entrance Leagues Club. Picture: Supplied

Kevin Steven Correll at his workplace as an RSA officer. Picture: Supplied

But, as revealed through this masthead’s Dear Rachelle investigation, Mr Correll was named the primary person of interest at the 2006 inquest into Rachelle’s death, after his alibi could not be corroborated.

He has always denied any involvement in the 23-year-old’s murder and has never been charged. The coroner delivered an open finding in 2008.

He was also previously acquitted of four rape charges against different women in Sydney in the 1980s. After that, he changed his name.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST DEAR RACHELLE PODCAST EPISODES BELOW:

Vital Security Group’s website asks applicants for RSA marshal positions to show a security operations qualification, which is surprisingly easy to attain.

And according to a fact sheet issued by NSW Police, prospective security workers only need to divulge criminal convictions if they took place less than 10 years prior.

In the event where there was a guilty finding with no conviction recorded, the mandatory disclosure period drops to five years.

Anyone on the child sex offender registry is not eligible for a security license, but that’s one of the few exceptions.

RSA officer Kevin Steven Correll outside the The Entrance Leagues Club. Picture: Supplied

The Entrance Leagues Club in NSW’s Central Coast, where Kevin Steve Correll worked as an RSA Marshall. Picture: Supplied

In Mr Correll’s situation, his employers likely had no idea about his past rape allegations because they never amounted to a guilty verdict. Even if they had, he wouldn’t have been required to disclose any of it to the security company because it was 40 years ago.

The nature of Mr Correll’s job at the club meant he had access to the names, photos, birthdays, and home addresses of every single guest who walked into the club while he was at the door.

RSA marshals are also generally required to provide assistance to intoxicated customers, report incidents, and promote responsible drinking.

Mr Correll was observed working there just before the Dear Rachelle podcast launched in March.

Rachelle Childs’ burning body was found in bushland in June 2001. Her murder has never been solved.

On an earlier date, Rachelle’s sister’s best friend Mindy visited the club and came face-to-face with him as she entered her personal details into the databases, incorrectly typing her address.

Referring to the machine, Mr Correll asked her: “Giving you a hard time, is it?”

A rattled Mindy replied: “It always does.”

LISTEN TO EARLIER EPISODES OF THE PODCAST BELOW:

She left the reception area and said to podcast host Ashlea Hansen: “What are the f***ing chances? I was literally putting in my address wrong because I saw him and I was pressing [the space button] and I couldn’t f***ing remember where I lived.”

In April, Vital Security Group was advertising an RSA marshal position, based in Bateau Bay – where The Entrance Leagues Club is located.

Vital Security Group has been contacted for comment.

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: New photos of key suspect in Rachelle’s murder