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 29 years, 11 months and 8 days |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Model, dancer, escort |
Background
editBalmain 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
editOn 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.[citation needed] 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[who?] 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "Final hours of missing Sydney model". NewsComAu. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d e John Pinkney, Great Australian Mysteries, Five Mile Press, Rowville, Victoria, 2004 ISBN 1-74124-024-7.
- ^ a b c "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.