Theory in Simone Strobel murder case crumbles after 20-year investigation
The central theory in Simone Strobel's two-decade murder investigation has been seriously undermined.
Simone Strobel was a 24-year-old German backpacker. She disappeared from a caravan park in Lismore on the night of 11 February 2005.
She was found dead six days later. Police believed she was killed by someone close to her at the caravan park that night.
This central theory has now been seriously weakened. Police had this information all along, not from new evidence.
An ABC podcast called Lies in Lismore recently examined the case. It had information about gaps in the original investigation.
A suspect has now been charged with murder. But the evidence suggests a different story from what police pursued for two decades.
Why it mattersThis case shows how a single theory can lead an investigation for years, even when other evidence points elsewhere. It raises questions about investigation methods.
AustraliaThe case happened in NSW and has been followed in Australia for 20 years; fresh examination may finally bring clarity to a high-profile cold case.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 12 d ago
