The search for Queensland teenager Rachel Antonio has turned to a Bowen rubbish tip where her family fears her body may have been dumped almost two decades ago.
Police on Thursday said they were exploring the possibility of excavating the site for Antonio’s remains in response to information received as part of a renewed investigation into her suspected killing in 1998.
Her family have hailed it as a decisive step towards solving the mystery around the disappearance of the 16-year-old, who was last seen walking on a beachfront Bowen street after she was dropped off at a nearby cinema on the evening of 25 April 1998.
The quest to determine Antonio’s fate has led the Queensland government to offer a $250,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of her remains, including an offer for “appropriate indemnity from prosecution” for any accomplice to her killer.
A coronial inquest last year found the teenager’s alleged former boyfriend Robert Hytch was her likely killer but coroner David O’Connell could not make any conclusions about her cause of death or the location of her body.
Hytch, a surf lifeguard, is appealing the coroner’s findings. He was found guilty of her manslaughter in 1999 but acquitted on a retrial after his defence team argued DNA evidence against him was flawed.
O’Connell found that Antonio met Hytch shortly after 7pm, when she was supposed to be seeing a movie. The coroner found Hytch then caused a “fatal injury” and hid her body.
“Ultimately I cannot determine what Mr Hytch did with Rachel’s body unless her remains are located,” O’Connell said.
Inspector Nikki Colfs visited the Bowen rubbish dump for the first time on Tuesday, a place that had not been previously searched by investigators.
Colfs was accompanied by a forensic officer, a former site manager and a representative of Whitsunday regional council, with plans for drilling tests ahead of possible excavations.
She said reasons for the visit included comparing the current layout of the dump to that in the late 1990s around the time Antonio’s body may have ended up there, as well as the “type of refuse practices undertaken in the 90s”.
“We have commenced a detailed evaluation and plan of action in relation to the possible site excavation of the tip,” Colfs said.
“I have spoken to Rachel’s family and advised them of this current course of action.
“Losing a child is a nightmare situation for any family. To have your daughter disappear and not know what happened, or where her remains are is unimaginable.
“The Antonio family deserve to know what happened, they deserve justice, and we remain committed to finding Rachel.”
Antonio’s mother Cheryl, who last saw her when dropping her off at the “Summer Garden” cinema, told the Courier-Mail the family was “very satisfied” with the development.
“It’s the best information we’ve had for ages. We’ve got something positive now.”
Antonio’s father Ian told the newspaper that police would employ a bones specialist to examine drill samples.
