News Corp Australia has rolled out a new true crime series, Dear Rachelle: The Hunt For My Sister’s Killer, a ten-part investigative project delivered across podcast, video, and digital editorial.
At the centre is the unsolved 2001 murder of 23-year-old Rachelle Childs, whose body was found burned on the NSW South Coast hours after she arranged to meet someone at a local pub.
For more than two decades, her family and friends have fought for answers. Did Rachelle know her killer? Who was she supposed to be meeting at the Bargo Hotel the night she died? Now a new cold case team has unearthed damning new evidence.
Murdered Bargo woman Rachelle Childs. Photo: News Corp Australia
The podcast
Fronted by News Corp journalist Ashlea Hansen and retired detective Damian Loone, famed for his role in The Teacher’s Pet, the series picks apart the original case file, cross-examines alibis, and presents new evidence in the hope of unlocking long-awaited answers.
Executive produced by Rachel Fountain, the series also features award-winning journalist Patrick Carlyon, with Sarah Blake serving as executive editor.
True crime meets content strategy
Dear Rachelle is more than a podcast – it’s a multi-platform storytelling play designed to tap into growing consumer appetite for longform, investigative true crime.
Supported by News Corp’s state mastheads, including The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail and The Advertiser, the campaign includes interactive digital features, video, and rolling editorial coverage.
“We hope that by bringing the reach and power of News’ network to this case, we can finally answer the question of what happened to Rachelle,” said Blake.
For more go to dearrachelle.com.au.