When Rachel Barber failed to return home from dance practice one evening in 1999, her family reported her missing and launched a desperate search. They plastered Melbourne with over 2,000 posters, hoping for any news of her whereabouts.

After days of searching, their hopes shattered on day 12 when they learned Rachel had been murdered. Her killer was a 19-year-old former babysitter and family friend who had been consumed by jealousy and obsession with Rachel, stalking her for years.

Criminal court reporter Megan Norris co-wrote a book with Rachel’s mother, Elizabeth, titled Perfect Victim, detailing the families tragic loss and the details of the case.

You can find Megan’s book with Elizabeth Southall Perfect Victim here.

THE END BITS

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CREDITS

Guest: Megan Norris

Host: Gemma Bath

Producers: Tahli Blackman & Christel Cornilsen

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

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 Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.