Forty years ago on 9 November, 1984, 31-year-old Lesley Patricia Larkin was seriously assaulted in her Kareela Court unit at Kareela Avenue, Noosa Heads and died from her injuries the next day.
Her murder remains unsolved.
Lesley Larkin was found about 12.30am lying naked across a mattress in her bedroom by a neighbour who told police he was returning her dog after he was woken by it barking outside his bedroom, about 100m away.
She was suffering from severe head injuries and was unconscious. She was conveyed to the Nambour Hospital and subsequently to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, where she remained unconscious until she died on 10 November 1984.
She was last seen alive about 10pm when she was spoken to at her unit by the same neighbour who told police he went there to offer Ms Larkin a job at his Hastings Street restaurant.
He has always strongly denied having any involvement in Ms Larkin’s murder.
Ms Larkin had moved to Noosa from Sydney and was working in Hastings Street.
About five years ago new information was provided to police that Ms Larkin had experienced some distressing incidents in the weeks prior to her death.
At the time Sunshine Coast district Detective Inspector Dave Drinnen told Brisbane Times: “We believe Ms Larkin confided in the people closest to her about these incidents.”
Inspector Drinnen described the case as a “horrific, callous homicide”.
“Leslie Larkin was found located in her bedroom where she had been bludgeoned to death,” he said.
Inspector Drinnen said Ms Larkin was vibrant and active, going to the gym, walking her brown and white boxer dog called Riff Raff and working at a restaurant.
“She would often be seen out walking the streets with her dog,” he said.
“We knew she had been seeking employment in other restaurants at Noosa.
Associate Professor in criminology Xanthé Mallett told ABC it was really difficult to tell what the motive was and therefore who, in fact, may be responsible.
“When I first looked at it, all the normal things you look for were missing,” Dr Mallett said.
“Nothing was stolen, there was no sexual assault, there doesn’t appear to have been a break and enter … Lesley may even have been asleep at the time of the attack.
Dr Mallett said in her experience, when someone has committed such a violent act, they will have shared that information with someone.
“It’s incredibly rare to keep that totally to yourself,” she said.
“Loyalties change, so over time people may be fearful to come forward or prevented for some reason, but 40 years later if they know something then they could come forward and still help police.”
A reward has been offered of $250,000 for information leading to a apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her murder.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
