Callous foster child killer found dead in jail cell
Ethan James |
Rick Thorburn, who was serving a life sentence for the cold and calculated murder of his 12-year-old foster child, has died in prison.
Thorburn was convicted in 2018, three years after the body of schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer was found on the banks of a Gold Coast river by fishermen.
He killed Tiahleigh after his son Trent confessed to sexually assaulting her and feared she was pregnant.
Queensland Corrective Services confirmed a 64-year-old man died at Woodford Correctional Facility in Queensland on Friday night.
He was found unresponsive in a single cell around 10pm and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
“The incident has been reported to police and (corrective services) will assist with their investigation,” a statement from corrective services said.
“All deaths in custody in Queensland are referred to the coroner.”
Thorburn, who wasn’t eligible for parole until 2036, had previously tried to take his own life in jail on several occasions.
He carried Tiahleigh’s coffin at her funeral in 2015 before being charged with her murder about a year later.
Thorburn was 57 when he pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges of murder, perjury, interfering with a corpse and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Supreme Court sentencing judge David Boddice said the crimes were cold, callous and calculated.
“You murdered this defenceless child who relied on you for protection,” Justice Boddice said in 2018.
Trent, Thorburn’s wife Julene and his eldest son Joshua, were also convicted for their involvement in Tiahleigh’s murder.
Trent, who pleaded guilty to incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice, was jailed for four years and served 16 months.
Julene was sentenced to at least six months jail after pleading guilty to perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The court found she lied to authorities investigating Tiahleigh’s disappearance to protect her family and lifestyle.
In 2021, a coroner ruled Tiahleigh likely died as a result of choking or asphyxiation in a deliberate act by Thorburn, despite his claim it was accidental.
Thorburn was completely remorseless and prison phone conversations with his wife indicated he thought he had been victimised by the media, coroner Jane Bentley said.
Thorburn was also convicted of abusing and raping an 11-year-old and trying to rape a four-year-old who were in care in the childcare business at the house.
The court was told the Thorburns became Tiahleigh’s full-time carers in January 2015.
After Thorburn killed Tiahleigh, he insisted to his family that they had to protect Trent and all offer the same lie to detectives.
They lived their lives normally the next day, and their story would be that Tiahleigh had vanished after leaving for school.
When she was reported missing Thorburn feigned concern.
He and his family lied through months of investigations before their story came undone when police bugged the family home.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP
