Keith Lees has been charged with the 27-year-old alleged murder of his partner Meaghan Louise Rose in 1997, following an almost two-year-long, multi-state manhunt.
Rose’s body was found at the bottom of the Point Cartwright cliffs in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland about 7am on July 18, 1997.
The 25-year-old resided at a unit in Marcoola with her de facto partner Lees, then 45, and his young child.
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Rose reportedly left the unit in her vehicle about 8pm on July 17, 1997.
Her vehicle, which contained a number of personal items, was later found in a nearby car park.
Queensland Police initially ruled her death a suicide, but approved a $50,000 reward for information into her death in July 2023 after new information — including a life insurance policy taken out prior to her death — indicated her death was suspicious.
While re-examining the case, investigators spoke with Lees at an address in Victoria on June 25, 2023.
The next day, his vehicle was found abandoned at Portland and Victoria Police launched a search and rescue operation to find him.
Lees then allegedly provided a fake name while speaking to police an hour away in Port Fairy, and was then seen at a Waurn Ponds shopping centre on June 27 purchasing new clothes.
The same day, he was seen leaving Shepparton Train Station, and investigators believed he was seeking casual work in the farming and fruit picking industries.
In September 2023, Lees’ child Wren Dawnsong urged their father to turn himself in.
“It’s been more than 20 years now, Meaghan’s family deserve justice,” Dawnsong said.
“My heart breaks for them daily, justice needs to be done.
“The best thing anyone can do is to immediately contact the police if they see him, straight away.”
Rose’s older sister, Christine Richards, also urged the public to provide assistance so her sister could get justice.
“Help us to bring justice for Meaghan after all this time, please help us let her rest in peace,” she said.
In an effort to locate Lees, digital posters were plastered across public transport sites in multiple states.
Investigators said they believed Lees was likely using a different identity and had changed his appearance.
Almost two years on from the original appeal, Lees was arrested by NSW Police at a property on Kenthurst Rd in Dural about 8am on Thursday.
He was charged with the warrant, and with one count each of deal with identity information to commit etc indictable offence, and possess identity information to commit etc indictable offence.
NSW Police also alleged he attempted to bite an officer while he was in custody, and he has been charged with assaulting a police officer during the execution of their duty without aggravated bodily harm.
Lees has been refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
It is understood Queensland Police will apply for his extradition.
