Disappearance of Revelle Balmain
Revelle Sabine Balmain (11 July 1972 – c. 5 November 1994) was an Australian model, dancer and escort who mysteriously disappeared from the Sydney suburb of Kingsford in early November 1994.[1] Balmain has never been heard from since.
Revelle Balmain | |
|---|---|
| Born | Revelle Sabine Balmain 11 July 1972 Manly, New South Wales, Australia |
| Disappeared | 5 November 1994 (aged 22) Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Status | Missing for 28 years, 11 months and 20 days |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Model, dancer, escort |
Background
Balmain was planning to visit Japan for her fourth six-week tour of cabarets, employed as a hostess. She had been working as a part-time model and as an escort to establish herself, and she was planning to finish escort work so that she could fully concentrate on her entertainment career.[2]
On 5 November 1994, Balmain, who was living in Sydney, had arranged to meet her mother at Newcastle Station for lunch.[3] She did not arrive on the train as expected. At 4:00 pm the same day, Balmain, who worked as an escort under the name of "Mischa", visited a client in the south-eastern Sydney suburb of Kingsford.
After the two-hour appointment was over, she had planned to meet her friend, Kate Brentnall, for a drink. At 7:15 pm, Balmain rang Brentnall to say that she was about to leave her client and suggested that they meet at the Royal Hotel, Paddington. She did not keep that appointment.[2]
Investigation
On the following day, 5 November, Balmain's bag, make-up, diary, credit cards, and keys to her Bellevue Hill flat were found scattered around several Kingsford streets. One of her shell-studded platform shoes was retrieved from one street; the other shoe was found in another street.[2]
Police interviewed Balmain's client, who said that he had driven her to the nearby Red Tomato Inn at about 7.00 pm on the evening of 5 November. As the booking was from 4.00 to 6.00, it was unclear if Balmain had moonlighted for the additional hour.[3] Police officers also questioned the escort agency's owners, but the enquiries resulted in no charges being laid.[2]
After a couple of fruitless weeks of searching, the New South Wales government offered a reward of $100,000 for anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of Balmain's killer.[2] As of 14 May 2021, the reward stood at $1,000,000.[4][5]
In May 1999, the Deputy State Coroner, John Abernethy, handed down an open finding into Balmain's presumed death. The coronial inquiry, however, suggested that the final client she had visited that day was a primary suspect, but fell short of recommending charges.[6]
Items belonging to Balmain, including her keys, passport, and plane ticket were also found in the vicinity of her final client's residence.[3] In 2008, forensic evidence suggested that Balmain was murdered in her final client's house. Members of Balmain's family also believe that there were major flaws in the police investigation of the disappearance.[7]
See also
References
- "Final hours of missing Sydney model". NewsComAu. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- John Pinkney, Great Australian Mysteries, Five Mile Press, Rowville, Victoria, 2004 ISBN 1-74124-024-7.
- "The Disappearance Of Sydney Model Revelle Balmain". www.mamamia.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- "Cold cases: Millions of dollars in rewards on offer for help solving NSW's most notorious murders". 9News. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- Model Revelle Balmain last seen in Kingsford in 1994, retrieved 18 August 2021
- Welch, Dylan (31 July 2008). "New lead in Revelle Balmain murder". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- Hadgraft, Beverley (19 June 2011). "They made us feel like criminals". Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 March 2012.