Detectives from the Queensland Police Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team (CCIT) have travelled to Sydney to seek the extradition of a 72-year-old man arrested in NSW for the alleged murder of Meaghan Louise Rose on the Sunshine Coast in 1997.
Keith Lees has been charged with the murder of his partner, Ms Rose, following a two-year, multi-state manhunt.
Police say that on 18 July 1997, 25-year-old Meaghan was located deceased at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs at Mooloolaba.
At the time of her death, Meaghan had been residing at a unit in Marcoola with her de facto partner, Mr Lees, then aged 45, and his young child.
Following a renewed public appeal in 2023, CCIT detectives re-examining the case, attended a Victorian address on June 25th to speak to a man in relation to the investigation. The following day, June 26, his vehicle was located abandoned at Portland.
“CCTV identified the man was in Port Fairy on June 26, before being sighted in Waurn Ponds and Shepparton on June 27,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
“In July 2023, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for a 72-year-old man in relation to the murder of Meaghan.
“There were no further confirmed sightings since, but investigations continued, alongside a number of media campaigns to appeal to the public for any information in relation to his whereabouts.”
As a result of the media coverage, Police acted on information from a member of the public and the man was arrested in NSW.
At approximately 8.10am yesterday, a 72-year-old man wanted on a Queensland arrest warrant was arrested by NSW Police at an address at Kenthurst Road, Dural.
He was taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with assault police officer in execution of duty without aggravated bodily harm, deal with identity information to commit etc indictable offence, possess identity information to commit etc indictable offence, and apprehension on warrant issued in another state.
The man is appearing at the Paramatta Court, where Queensland detectives will apply for his extradition to Queensland.
