Revelle Sabine Balmain vanished mysteriously on November 5, 1994, from the Sydney suburb of Kingsford, leaving behind a trail of questions that continue to haunt investigators and her family alike.
Her disappearance remains one of Australia's most shocking unsolved cases.
Born on July 11, 1972, in Manly, New South Wales, Australia, Revelle was known for her vibrant career as a model, dancer, and escort,
She was engaged in various professions to support her aspirations as a full-time entertainer.
As a part-time model and dancer, she was on the brink of substantial opportunities in the entertainment industry.
She also worked as an escort under the alias "Mischa," a temporary job meant to finance her aspirations of becoming a full-time entertainer.
Balmain's career was set to take an international turn with her fourth tour to Japan as a cabaret hostess, a testament to her ambition and dedication.
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| Revelle Balmain |
The Day of Disappearance
On November 5, 1994, Balmain, residing in Sydney, had plans to meet her mother at Newcastle Station for lunch.
However, she never arrived on the train as expected.
At 4:00 pm that same day, Balmain, working as an escort under the name "Mischa," visited a client in Kingsford, a southeastern suburb of Sydney.
Following the two-hour appointment, she intended to meet her friend, Kate Brentnall, for a drink.
At 7:15 pm, Balmain called Brentnall to inform her that she was about to leave her client and proposed they meet at the Royal Hotel in Paddington.
Unfortunately, she never made it to that meeting and she has not been seen since then.
The next day, Revelle's personal belongings, including her bag, makeup, diary, credit cards, and keys to her Bellevue Hill apartment, were found scattered across several streets in Kingsford.
Her distinctive shell-studded platform shoes were discovered on different streets, further deepening the mystery.
These scattered items suggested a struggle or hurried departure, leading to immediate concerns for her safety
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| Her belongings |
Investigation into the Disappearance
Initial investigations focused on Ms. Balmain's last known client, Gavin Samer, who denied any involvement and claimed he dropped her at a nearby pub.
He claimed to have driven her to the Red Tomato Inn around 7:00 pm on November 5 after their appointment.
Since her appointment was scheduled from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, it was uncertain whether Balmain had worked an extra hour.
Officers also questioned the owners of the escort agency, but these inquiries led to no charges being filed.
After searching for weeks with no result, the New South Wales government offered a $100,000 reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of a suspect.
This figure has since been increased to $1,000,000.
Coroners Inquest
In May 1999, Deputy State Coroner John Abernethy concluded that Revelle was dead.
He then issued an open finding concerning her presumed death.
The inquest raised significant suspicions about her last client but did not recommend any charges.
The coroner stated that Mr. Samer had the opportunity to kill Ms. Balmain but no plausible motive emerged.
The inconclusive nature of the inquiry has been a continuing source of frustration for Revelle's family and justice advocates.
In 2008, forensic evidence suggested that Revelle was likely murdered in her final client's house.
Items belonging to her, such as keys, a passport, and a plane ticket, were found near this residence, supporting the theory of foul play.
Mr. Samer has never been charged, and there is no indication that he remains a suspect.
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| Revelle Balmain |
Recent Developments
In July 2021, the police announced they had obtained new crucial information.
This included a blurry photograph of a man wearing sunglasses and a white T-shirt, seated at a wooden table.
Following this lead, police identified a new individual potentially connected to the case and conducted raids on three separate premises.
This prompted New South Wales Deputy State Coroner Joan Baptie to initiate a second inquest, which commenced on April 29, 2024.
The initial coronial inquest in 1999 concluded that Ms. Balmain died at the hands of an unknown person or persons.
The escort agency she worked for was managed by Jane King and her then-husband Zoran Stanojevic.
In 2023, many years after their divorce, Ms. King disclosed new information to authorities.
She said that Ms. Balmain planned to meet with Mr. Stanojevic's friends on the night she vanished.
There is no indication that Mr. Stanojevic is currently under police investigation.
In December 2021, he was arrested on unrelated charges as part of the renewed investigation into Ms. Balmain's disappearance.
He was one of five men arrested in Sydney in connection with an alleged Serbian crime syndicate.
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| Zoran Stanojevic arrest |
The police said they are working to determine his whereabouts on the night Ms. Balmain disappeared.
"The new line of inquiry is that we are looking at a person previously unknown to Revelle, who may have met her on the night she disappeared" according to authorities.
They also stated that Ms. King, Ms. Balmain's former employer, expressed frustration that the $1 million reward came too late and feared the police missed crucial clues.
She noted that Ms. Balmain's "posse," which included two women from the agency and a doctor, had never been questioned.
To date, no one has been formally charged in connection with Ms. Balmain's disappearance, and the circumstances surrounding it remain unsolved.
Sources
1. [smh.com.au - New investigation into mystery of missing Sydney model](https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/new-investigation-into-mystery-of-missing-sydney-model-20240218-p5f5w4.html)
2. [go.gale.com - New investigation into mystery of missing Sydney model](https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA787274581&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w)
3. [thenightly.com.au - Revelle Balmain: Inquest probes whether Sydney model ...](https://thenightly.com.au/australia/revelle-balmain-inquest-probes-whether-sydney-model-missing-since-1994-was-killed-over-a-debt-c-14477642)
4. [9news.com.au - Revelle Balmain: Inquest hears fresh evidence in 30-year ...](https://www.9news.com.au/national/friends-of-model-escort-recount-day-she-disappeared/90c5f309-eea8-488c-953e-709d7b02f9c5)
5. [9now.nine.com.au - Breakthrough in missing model Revelle Balmain mystery](https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/revelle-balmain-cold-case-breakthrough-in-missing-model-mystery/173c77d5-9412-407f-9c02-7749386e74a6)
6. [dailytelegraph.com.au - Revelle Balmain: Boyfriend of missing Sydney model did not ...](https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/revelle-balmain-boyfriend-of-sydney-model-who-went-missing-in-1994-did-not-know-about-her-double-life/news-story/0c27d67aaf198078837f57e10db6c26b)
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