Australia Australia - Meaghan Louise Rose, 25, Body Found, Point Cartwright Cliffs, Mooloolaba QLD July 18 1997

[TootsieFootsie]

Police offer $500,000 reward for woman found dead 20 years ago

Meaghan Rose, originally from the Victorian town of Morwell, was found at the base of the Point Cartwright Cliffs in Mooloolaba on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on July 18, 1997.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Originally believed to be a death by suicide by police, the case was reopened in 2019.

 

[dotr]

Meaghan Rose was last seen in 1997. Her death, originally believed to be by suicide, is now believed to be suspicious. Picture: Aisling Brennan / NCA NewsWire.
June 27 2023

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/police-offer-500000-reward-after-disappearance-of-meaghan-rose/news-story/6c3931e5675e5ab911f46f0bf2f8e74c#:~:text=Police%20put%20out%20a%20missing,was%20last%20seen%20in%201997.

''Person involved in Meaghan Rose cold case declared missing​

There’s been a fresh twist in a decades-old suspected murder mystery, just hours after a $500k reward for new information was announced.''
Hugo Timms, Aisling Brennan, and Anthony Anderson

An elderly man, connected to the cold case mystery of a woman whose body was found more than two decades ago, has been declared missing just hours after a half-a-million dollar reward was announced for new information.
Meaghan Rose, originally from the Victorian town of Morwell, was found at the base of the Point Cartwright Cliffs in Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on July 18, 1997.

Detectives with Queensland Police spoke to a 70-year-old man in relation to the case on Sunday and his car was found abandoned in the southwest coastal Victorian town of Portland on Monday, with Victoria Police officers searching the area.

Police put out a missing persons alert for the 70-year-old on Tuesday evening, just hours after Queensland Police announced an offer of a $500,000 reward to help them solve the suspected cold case killing.''

 

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'' Jun 27, 2023 #7NEWS #BREAKINGNEWS
Queensland Police have announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of whoever is responsible for the murder of Meghan Louise Rose on the Sunshine Coast 25 years ago. The 25-year-old's body was found at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs at Mooloolaba on 18 July 1997, and her car was found at the top of the cliffs. Meaghan's sister Fiona Ratcliffe says their family is hopeful someone will come forward to provide answers in the long-running cold case.''

 

[StarrChance]

From 2009

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/killer-a-suspect/news-story/4f52e9c8774a8b2246b592789e4289f0

A MAN jailed for killing and beheading his lover's husband is being investigated over the death of a Victorian woman 12 years ago.
In 2004, Keith Lees was sentenced to 20 years in jail for killing former friend Barry Waters after a secret affair with Mr Waters' wife.

Mr Waters, 42, had not been seen for almost a year when his body was found dumped near the Yarra Ranges in March 2002.

Now Lees is being investigated as a suspect in the 1996 death of Meaghan Rose, 22, of Morwell. Previously the death had been been thought a suicide.

Lees was in a relationship with Ms Rose and persuaded her to move with him from Victoria to the Sunshine Coast.

Once there, she took out life insurance containing a clause that the policy had to run for 13 months before covering the insured for suicide.

Ms Rose was found dead at the base of a cliff in Maroochydore 13 months and three days after the policy had been taken out and Lees claimed the $203,000 payout.

 

[dotr]

rbbm

A manhunt for Keith Lees, 70, is underway in Victoria. He vanished after speaking to police on Sunday over the 1997 death of his ex-girlfriend Meaghan Rose

Cold case twist as ex-boyfriend vanishes after being quizzed by cops

A manhunt is underway to find the ex-boyfriend of Meaghan Rose, who was found dead at the bottom of a Queensland cliff in 1997.

www.dailymail.co.uk

June 28 2023
''Mr Lees, who was 20 years Ms Rose's senior, took out a life insurance policy in her name before she died and made a claim three days after a waiting period expired.''

''On Tuesday police announced a reward of $500,000 was offered for information that leads to an arrest over the death of Ms Rose.

Lees, who was convicted for the murder of Barry Waters in 2004, was last seen in Portland, Victoria, on Monday.

Lees was sentenced to 20 years in jail for killing Mr Waters, who had been his friend, after an affair with the man's wife.

Lees' car, a silver Holden Captiva, was found abandoned at Cape Nelson Lighthouse at 5.30pm on Monday.

That prompted an air search search by Victorian police and a public appeal.''

'Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing man Keith,' a statement read.

'The 70-year-old was last seen in Hood Street in Portland about 9am on 26 June.

'Police with the assistance of Air Wing and SES have been searching the area and are hoping to speak to anyone who may have seen the vehicle being driven between 10am and 5.30pm on 26 June.'

Lees is described as having a medium build, approximately 170cm tall with grey receding hair.''

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Arrest warrant for man over cliff murder 26 years ago

Police are searching for a 70-year-old man who hasn't been seen since June in relation to the murder of his former partner Meaghan Louise Rose in 1997.

www.perthnow.com.au

Still hasn't been found

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Queensland police issue arrest warrant over cold case alleged murder of Meaghan Rose

Police have obtained an arrest warrant for 70-year-old Keith Lees in relation to the alleged murder of a 25-year-old Sunshine Coast woman in 1997.

www.abc.net.au

Detectives on June 25 went to a Victorian property to speak with Mr Lees, who police allege was known to Ms Rose, in relation to the cold case investigation.

A day later, Mr Lees' vehicle was found abandoned at Portland, prompting a search and rescue operation by Victoria Police.

The Queensland Police Service said Mr Lees provided a false name when speaking to police later that day at Port Fairy, south-west Victoria.

He was later spotted purchasing clothes at a shopping centre in Waurn Pods on June 27.

Police said Mr Lees could be seeking casual work in farming and fruit picking, and could also be travelling interstate.

 

[dotr]

July 31 2023 rbbm

Arrest warrant issued for man wanted in relation to cold case

Meaghan Louise Rose cold case: Keith Lees' car found abandoned in Portland, Victoria

www.9news.com.au

Keith Lees was last seen leaving a Shepparton Train Station wearing a distinctive black and white jacket on June 27. (Queensland Police)

''Lees disappeared from Victoria after being questioned over the cold case murder of Meaghan Louise Rose in Queensland. (Victoria Police)
Police say he now may be looking for casual farming and fruit picking work in Victoria or interstate.
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.''

''Police say Lees was known to Rose and are appealing for him to come forward.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should immediately contact police but are warned not to approach him.''

 

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Aug 8 2023 rbbm

Fugitive cold case murder suspect caught buying new clothes on CCTV

www.9news.com.au

''Police believe a man wanted in relation to a 1997 cold case death could be seeking casual work in farming or fruit picking after he was caught on CCTV purchasing new clothes.
Keith Lees' car was found abandoned in Portland, Victoria, in late June, a day after he gave a false name to police and two days before the announcement of a $500,000 reward for information on the murder of Meaghan Louise Rose in Queensland.
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 last month was largely focused on Rose's relationship with her then-partner Lees, now 70, who was the last person to see the 25-year-old alive and had taken out a life insurance policy in her name.''

''Police are appealing for Lees to come forward but have warned the public not to approach him.

Lees was last seen at a Waurn Ponds shopping centre buying new clothes, before leaving Shepparton train station on June 27, wearing a distinctive black and white jacket.''

 

[Tintenbar]

Is Keith Lees related to Joanne Lees?

Why did it take twenty-six years for the police to suspect K. Lees?

Shock twist after boyfriend questioned over woman’s death

Rose had moved from Victoria to Queensland with Lees, who was more than 20 years older than her. The couple moved to the Sunshine Coast with his young son.

Once there, a life insurance policy was taken out for Rose containing a clause that it had to run for 13 months before coverage applied in the case of suicide.

She was found dead 13 months and three days later, with a $203,000 payout later claimed. (...) Rose told friends and family in the days before her death her relationship was over and she intended to leave.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Family appeal to Keith Lees to hand himself in over Meaghan Louise Rose murder investigation

Keith Lees, 70, has been missing since June after he was visited by police about the case.

www.abc.net.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Police believe a cold case murder suspect could be hiding 'anywhere in Australia'. They want your help to find him

For nearly 27 years, the family of Meaghan Rose have been trying to prove she was murdered. Now, the ABC can reveal fresh details about her suspected killer.

www.abc.net.au