Dear Rachelle
A young woman murdered. A crime shrouded in secrecy. A killer who walked away. Who killed Rachelle Childs? Innocent people, silenced by fear for decades, are breaking their silence. For more than two decades, her family and friends have fought for answers. They believe her case is solvable and her killer is still alive. Now Rachelle's younger sister Kristy has teamed up with investigative experts to re-open the case. The podcast is hosted by journalist Ashlea Hansen and retired detective Damian Loone.
Episodes
Investigation Update | 9 – The lawyer behind the podcast
Meet the lawyer guiding the Dear Rachelle team through the legal challenges of Rachelle Childs’ cold case. In this bonus episode, host Ashlea Hansen speaks to Justin Quill, a partner at Thomson Geer who has advised the podcast from the beginning. Justin reveals the careful legal checks behind every episode, from managing defamation risk to handling sensitive interviews. They explore key deve
Investigation Update | 8 – What Kevin Correll’s death means for the case
The key suspect in Rachelle Childs’ murder has died, what does this mean for the investigation? In this bonus episode, host Ashlea Hansen is joined by senior features writer Patrick Carlyon and senior reporter Charlotte Karp from News Corp to discuss the impact of Kevin Steven Correll’s death, new insights into his alibi, updates from police, and whether his passing could encourage new
Investigation Update | 7 – Kevin Correll found dead in Thailand
Key murder suspect Kevin Steven Correll has died in Thailand. In this breaking-news bonus episode, host Ashlea Hansen unpacks everything we know so far - from the raw, emotional reactions of Rachelle’s family to insights from retired detectives and a woman who previously made shocking allegations against Kevin. You’ll also hear from Kevin’s daughter, Jazz, as she responds to
The paperboy | 15
Could a police notebook from 2001 hold the key to Rachelle's murder? New evidence and forgotten witnesses emerge and Rachelle’s family share emotional tributes, underscoring their relentless pursuit of justice, in this gripping season 1 finale. Meanwhile, FBI trained criminal profiler Kris Illingsworth explores a new theory, and Dr Matthew Sorrell's cutting-edge forensic analysis challenges
My father Kevin Part 2 | 14
The most dangerous thing Rachelle could have done is reject him. That's the belief of Jazz, the daughter of a key suspect in the murder of Rachelle Childs. “If Rachelle had rejected him or mocked him, or if it was known. She had rejected him, that would have infuriated him,” Jazz says. Her father, Kevin Steven Corell, considers himself “forensically intelligent” after watch
My father Kevin Part 1 | 13
Jazz wants her father Kevin to confess to murder. Her father is Kevin Steven Correll, the key suspect in the murder of Rachelle Childs. By coming forward, Jazz hopes Kevin can finally offer Rachelle’s family some justice, after their 24 year fight for answers. And she has critical new information for the investigation. These are Jazz’s opinions about her father. Kevin Correll has never
A sister's promise | 12
Kristy Childs’ words to her dying father Graham echo through the years. “I remember one of the last things I said to him was, I'll find him.” Graham, who died of brain cancer during the pandemic, never lived to see anyone charged over Rachelle’s murder. Yet his determination to uncover the truth passed firmly to Kristy. Meanwhile, specialist cadaver dogs from Search Dogs Sy
Carriage of secrets | 11
What happens in the train carriage, stays in the carriage. A confrontation escalates the investigation. An old friend speaks in defence of Kevin Correll, and tells us what he’s up to now. Dear Rachelle is hosted and investigated by journalist Ashlea Hansen, who teams up with retired detective and cold case specialist Damian Loone, and Rachelle’s sister Kristy. Dear Rachelle is a podcas
Investigation Update | 6 - Eyewitnesses, tips and new leads
Who else spoke to Rachelle on the day she went missing? The Dear Rachelle investigation has been overwhelmed by the number of listeners who have come forward with new information since we launched. In this bonus update episode, retired NSW detective Damian Loone joins host Ashlea Hansen and Rachelle’s sister Kristy, her mum Ann and Kristy’s best friend Mindy as they go through some of
Greasy alibi | 10
It's time to explore the alibi of key suspect Kevin Steven Correll, from June 7, 2001 - the night Rachelle Childs died. 1983: A policeman recalls arresting Kevin Correll (then known as Kevin Cornwall) at gunpoint, while a woman ran screaming from his car. Kevin denies all allegations and was later found not guilty of sexual assault and all charges stemming from the alleged incident. 2025: the inve
Investigation Update | 5 - Journalists on the case
Go behind the headlines of an unsolved murder that continues to raise questions - in this bonus episode with the journalists working to uncover the truth. Host Ashlea Hansen is joined by fellow News Corp journalists Patrick Carlyon, senior features writer, and Charlotte Karp, senior reporter, both part of the core team investigating the murder of Rachelle Childs. They unpack the journalistic
My husband Kevin | 9
Elise says she lived with a man who had many sides. A charming, romantic, funny husband, who would turn into a controlling, stonewalling, cruel stranger at the flip of a switch. Then there were the threats. Eerily specific threats of violence, threats of murder. Next, she alleges, came the actual violence. Years after they’d separated, she heard her ex-husband was a key suspect in the murder
Investigation Update | 4 - Your questions answered, from forensics to the killer's possible motivation
Host Ashlea Hansen puts your questions to retired NSW detective and cold case expert Damian Loone, alongside Rachelle's sister Kristy. After a flood of messages from listeners, they respond directly to what you’ve been asking and share fresh insight into the continuing investigation. Want to be first to hear what happens next? You can enjoy early access to the latest podcast episodes w
What lies beneath | 8
Rachelle Childs has been dead five years when new evidence leads authorities to exhume and re-examine her body. Her family consents, but otherwise the exhumation remains secret until a key POI is informed that, while he answers questions at Rachelle’s inquest, her body lies in the morgue beneath that very courtroom. The inquest is explosive. Nine persons of interest are scrutinised, and her
Investigation Update | 3 - Hidden clippings and police response
A key witness comes forward with a disturbing discovery, in this third update episode of Dear Rachelle. Host Ashlea Hansen is joined by Rachelle’s sister Kristy, her mum Anne, close friend Mindy and retired detective Damian Loone to unpack the latest developments. The owner of the unit once rented by Kevin Correll has come forward with a strange find from under the carpet. The discover
Prince Charming | 7
First it's the thrill of singles mingles nights, champagne, prawns and flowers. Then, in an instant, the switch is flicked. The pleading turns nasty. The menacing phone calls start. Sometimes fixation turns into threats of outright violence. A Person Of Interest’s previous partners come forward with allegations about his patterns of behaviour. Why was that same POI telling people about
The classifieds predator | 6
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault, which may be distressing to some listeners. Two sexually motivated attacks. Two women preyed upon in their own homes. Two acquittals. A familiar alibi. Two women silenced for decades, who are now speaking out for Rachelle. Want to be first to hear what happens next? You can enjoy early access to the latest podcast episodes
The driver’s seat | 5
“What happened and why did it happen? Those two things will tell you about the person who did it.” FBI-trained criminal profiler and former NSW police Detective Sergeant Kris Illingsworth takes Ash through the trail of evidence and the killer’s likely state of mind. Her report has never been shared with the Childs family nor the public, until now. Can hypnotherapy help a friend r
Investigation Update | 2 - New leads from the petrol cap and CCTV?
New forensic leads emerge in this second update episode of Dear Rachelle. Police enhance CCTV from the night Rachelle was murdered and send a new item for forensic testing, plus more people ink the "Team Chelle" cause on their skin. Ashlea Hansen sits down with Kristy, Anne and retired detective Damian Loone to unpack the latest breakthroughs in the unfolding investigation. Want to be first to hea
Killer at a funeral | 4
As mourners gather to farewell the girl next door who just happened to love fast cars, detectives keep a close eye on the guest list. Was Rachelle’s murderer there among them? Investigating the men in Rachelle’s orbit, Ash and Damian uncover a common thread that brings them closer to the truth. What did Rachelle stumble upon that could have put her in danger? Dear Rachelle is hosted an
Crooked River Road | 3
Fear intensifies around the usually quiet towns of Bargo and Gerroa, as word spreads a serial killer could be responsible for two murders. Police establish Rachelle Childs’ burned, half naked body was discovered just metres away from that of another murdered woman, young mum Jodie Fesus. Ash and Damian go back to Crooked River Road and uncover crucial physical evidence, mapping out the crime
Investigation Update | 1 - Police reopen the case
In this first update episode of Dear Rachelle, get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the unfolding investigation. Ashlea Hansen sits down with Kristy, Rachelle’s sister, and her best friend, Mindy, to reflect on the overwhelming response to the series and what inspired them to share Rachelle’s story. Plus, just hours after launch, a major development - NSW Police provide a promisin
Bikies, ink and a vicious rumour | 2
Rachelle Childs has been dead for a week and police have no clear suspects. While detectives race to piece together her final movements, everyone grapples with shock and grief, and the small town rumour mill goes into overdrive. Was Rachelle killed by bikies over a drug debt? Rachelle’s sister Kristy hopes a former bikie boss will share vital information about the rumours. Dear Rachelle is h
The long weekend | 1
A killer is on the loose in an Australian country town. Excited for the June long weekend, bubbly 23-year old Rachelle Childs leaves work, phones her sister, and is dead within hours. Her burning, partially naked body is found nine hours later in bushland on a lonely coastal road. It’s another two days before her family is told the devastating news. Since Rachelle’s brutal murder and s
INTRODUCING: Dear Rachelle
“My beautiful sister, Rachelle Childs, was violently taken from us when I was just 18. My big sister was vivacious, hilarious and kind. She was my mentor, my protector, my best friend. I looked up to her so much. Now I know she's looking down on me. Willing me to find the person who killed her.” Kristy Childs’s sister Rachelle was murdered. No one has ever been charged with
