A man questioned over the death of a young woman on Queensland‘s Sunshine Coast has gone missing in Victoria as the previously-suspected suicide is probed as a cold case murder.
Meaghan Louise Rose’s body was found at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs in Mooloolaba on the morning of July 18, 1997, when a passerby looked down after spotting a cask of wine and a glass in the grass.
An appeal for information today was largely focused on Rose’s relationship with her then-partner, who was the last person to see the then-25-year-old alive and had taken out a life insurance policy in her name, police say.
Hours after the announcement of a $500,000 reward for information in Queensland, police said a 70-year-old man questioned on Sunday had vanished from Portland in Victoria yesterday.
“His vehicle, a silver Holden Captiva, was located at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse carpark on 26 June about 5.30pm,” Victoria Police said.
Police identified the man as Keith and released a picture of him after commencing a search of the area.
“Keith is described as having a medium build, approximately 170cm tall with grey receding hair,” police said.
At the time of Rose’s death, her white Suzuki Chino hatchback was found at the top of the cliffs and a judge determined soon after there was “no good purpose” for an inquest, based on a police report that said the death was not believed to be suspicious.
Her cause of death was determined to be her multiple injuries as well as her blood alcohol level of 0.148.
Meaghan’s late father and mother, who now has advanced dementia, as well as her two sisters Christine Richards and Fiona Ratcliffe, have always maintained she did not take her life and believe she was murdered.
In 2009, the case was re-opened.
Rose began dating her former partner in 1995 in Victoria and moved to Queensland in 1996.
When originally questioned, the partner told police he had been at home with Rose on the evening before her death, July 17, 1997, at their apartment in Marcoola.
The pair had been drinking earlier in the day at the Maroochydore RSL.
He told police he offered her a hot drink about 7.15pm before moving to another room and then at 8pm discovered she had left the apartment and her car was gone.
He was notified by police when her body was found the following day.
Further investigations revealed he had taken out a life insurance policy in her name on May 21, 1996.
The policy did not cover suicide within the first 13 months, but as Rose died just after the 13-month waiting period had expired, her partner received a payout of more than $200,000.
Detective Senior Sargent Tara Kentwell said shortly before her death Rose had told her family she intended to separate from her partner and had made plans to see friends and family.
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Younger sister Fiona Ratcliffe today said she had been so concerned by changes in Rose’s behaviour that she had made plans to move to Queensland herself.
“I saw the difference in Meaghan in the 10 months that she had been up here,” Ratcliffe said today.
“Her demeanour had changed.
“It’s hard to explain because she was such a bubbly person, she was happy-go-lucky.
“When I would call her I would be on the phone three to four hours at a time. Those conversations weren’t as bubbly so there was something going on.
“Towards the last two months of Meaghan’s life we had discussed me moving.”
Ratcliffe said Meaghan never disclosed any coercive or controlling behaviour but had told her she was planning to end her relationship with her partner and “was basically waiting for myself to get to Queensland”.
“I knew (something was wrong) due to phone calls not going through, conversations were very basic and it was like she couldn’t talk sometimes and other conversations everything was out in the open so you could tell that there was two different conversations going on.”
Ratcliffe said her sister was caring, “always had a smile on her face” and was “always up for adventure”.
“In one word, I could call her a dag,” Ratcliffe said.
“But no matter what, she was always there for anyone who needed her help. That is why I am here today.
“Next month on the 18th of July will be 26 years since Meaghan’s death.
“On behalf of myself and the rest of Meaghan’s family I ask that anyone who has information please contact police.”
Investigators want anyone who has information about Meaghan’s relationship, the life insurance policy, or who may have seen Meaghan’s car, a 1995 white Suzuki Chino hatch with Queensland registration 415 DNN or any people at Point Cartwright Cliffs on the night of the murder to come forward.
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Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
