The sister of Rachelle Childs, a victim of an unsolved murder in 2001, has called upon New South Wales Police to boost the reward from $200,000 to $500,000. The intention is to rekindle public interest and possibly unearth new evidence in this long-standing cold case.

Kristy Morris, Rachelle's younger sister, who was only 18 at the time of the tragedy, expressed the enduring pain caused by losing her quick-witted and beloved 23-year-old sister. A lively and cherished individual, Rachelle left an indelible mark on those who knew her.

 "The petition is about raising the reward to $500,000, which is definitely not unheard of — it's quite common," Ms Morris said. "The reason why is because we want people to be talking about it.”

"We want people thinking about that time, where they were, if there are any details they can remember, and just raising the award will get Rachelle's case back into the public eye, which is what we are hoping for."

Rachelle's father, Graham, passed away in 2021 without learning who took his daughter's life. The family remains hopeful that the mysteries surrounding the case will be unveiled in due course, allowing Graham to find peace.

About the crime

-On the evening of Thursday, 7 June 2001, 23-year old Rachelle Childs was last seen driving her 1978 Holden Commodore, registered as GV-2000, from her workplace in Camden to her residence in Bargo at approximately 5:15pm. After concluding her duties at her work, a car dealership, located about a 20-30 minute drive away, Rachelle returned home.

It is believed that she then travelled a short distance to Bargo Pub, possibly to meet someone. Later, her 1978 Holden Commodore was discovered abandoned in the parking lot behind the venue. Notably, during the police investigation, the driver's seat and steering wheel lock of her car were found in an unusual position, prompting scepticism about whether Rachelle had last driven the vehicle or if someone else had taken control of it.

At 2:2 am on 8 June, Rachelle's still burning body was found in Gerroa, 60 miles from her home. The discovery, made by a security guard, was nothing short of traumatic

Fiona Shaw, a colleague of Rachelle's at Camden Holden, arrived at Rachelle's home on the morning of 8 June, unaware of the gruesome discovery. Rachelle's house lights and television were left on, leading to concern about her whereabouts. The family was informed two days after the discovery of Rachelle’s body. 

A 2008 coronial inquest, prompted by statements from Rachelle's former boss, Kevin Correll, reportedly said that Childs' fingers had been cut off because of her ‘interest in bikies’. 

Rachelle's body was exhumed and state coroner Jane Culver concluded that her fingers were severed before she was burnt. Culver assumed Rachelle's death was a homicide. Ms Culver also made an extensive list of recommendations during her inquest on how police should conduct murder investigations in future. These mainly involved better cooperation between local detectives and the Homicide Unit.

"The police investigation in the early period following Ms Childs' death unfortunately was not able to capture some items of evidence which are no longer available to the current investigating police," she said. I was unable to find out what specific evidence she was referring to. 

Police identified nine possible suspects, focusing on one as the potential perpetrator. To date, eight have been ruled out, with no further details provided.

Her family says their greatest fear is that her killer may only be caught after the person strikes again.

In 2018, Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Scott Cook said “The movement of Rachelle’s car is of particular interest to investigators, and while it was 17 years ago, her car was distinctive and we believe this could refresh a memory,” Det Supt Cook said. 

“We believe her car travelled to the Gerroa area and was driven back to Bargo – so we are very interested in speaking to anyone who was on the road around that time and may have seen her car”

“Further, we know that her body was burnt with petrol, so we are also keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her vehicle at a service station between Bargo and Gerroa that evening.

“Someone out there knows something, so, if you know anything that may help us provide answers to Rachelle’s family, now is the time to free your conscience and speak to us."

The late Graham Childs fondly recalled how his daughter cherished her horses, dogs, cats, and family, emphasising that there wasn't a single day when they were unaware of her whereabouts. The heinous act committed against this beloved sister and daughter, who had her entire life ahead of her, points to the presence of a sinister and malevolent force.

 If you have any information regarding this crime or details about her car's movements on the critical night, we urge you to reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000. Your assistance could be vital in finally bringing closure to this tragic case.