Many years later, her disappearance remains one of Australia’s most baffling cold cases.
Despite extensive searches and investigations, no trace of her has ever been found.
Where is Rhianna Barreau?
Background of the Case
Rhianna Barreau was just 12 years old when she vanished in 1992.
She lived with her mother, Paula, and her younger brother in a quiet home on Wakefield Avenue in Morphett Vale, South Australia.
Her parents were separated and her father Leon was living in another town.
Those who knew her described her as a sweet, bright girl with a warm smile.
At Morphett Vale High School, Rhianna was known as a diligent student with a bubbly personality.
Her teachers recalled her as being popular among classmates.
She was always willing to help others and possessed a maturity beyond her years.
Life at home was normal for Rhianna.
Her mother worked, and like many kids her age, she enjoyed writing to a pen pal in the United States.
In fact, this innocent hobby was part of her plans the day she disappeared.
The neighborhood where they lived was considered safe in the early 1990s.
Kids regularly walked to school alone or played outside until dusk.
Rhianna was no exception - she was familiar with the local area and often visited nearby shops by herself.
Her family had no reason to worry when she went out on short errands.
Sadly, in 1972, Rhianna went out and never returned.
The Day Rhianna Disappeared
Wednesday, October 7, 1992, was a school holiday for Rhianna Barreau.
She had planned to meet her mother, Paula, for lunch at Colonnades Shopping Centre, which is near the TAFE where her mother was studying.
But that morning, bus drivers went on strike, canceling all public transport.
Due to the strike, Rhianna stayed home after her mother left for work.
Around mid-morning, she decided to walk to the Southgate Shopping Centre in Reynella, about a kilometer away.
She wanted to buy a Christmas card for her pen pal in the United States, as reported by ABC News
At 10:30 AM, a shopkeeper at the Reynella newsagency clearly saw Rhianna purchase the card.
She appeared normal and fine.
After leaving the shop, she began walking home along familiar streets.
The last confirmed sighting was at 12:30 PM on Highway Drive, near Morphett Vale High School.
Witnesses saw her walking towards her home, carrying the newsagency bag with the card she purchased.
After this sighting, Rhianna was never seen again.
When Paula returned home at 4:00 PM, she found the house empty.
The television was left on and records were scattered on the floor near the stereo.
Also, the Christmas card Rhianna had bought was still on the kitchen table, untouched and unsent.
There was no sign of forced entry or a struggle.
The front door was unlocked and this was common in their neighborhood at the time.
Nothing from the house was missing except Rhianna herself.
The short walk home from the shops should have taken about 15 minutes but sadly, Rhianna never made it home.
After her mother couldn't find Rhianna, she immediately filed a missing person report with the local police department.
The Search and Investigation That Followed
After Rhianna's mother reported her missing that evening, police immediately began searching the neighborhood.
Officers checked nearby parks, streets, and vacant lots.
They spoke to residents along Rhianna's likely route home, asking if anyone had seen her but nothing concrete came up.
The next day, detectives from the Major Crime Unit took over the case.
They organized systematic searches of the area around Wakefield Avenue and Highway Drive.
Cadaver dogs were brought in to help, while officers combed through bushes and empty properties.
Volunteers joined the search, looking in storm drains and along creek banks but Rihanna was nowhere to be found.
Within days, the investigation expanded.
Divers checked waterways while helicopters scanned from above.
Detectives interviewed Rhianna's friends, teachers, and family members.
They wanted to know if she had mentioned any plans or worries.
Her school locker and bedroom were carefully examined for clues but the police found nothing.
Police even displayed a mannequin wearing Rhianna's exact outfit in shopping centers to help trigger witnesses' memories.
Despite these efforts, nobody remembered seeing anything unusual that day.
During the investigation, one important lead emerged when witnesses reported seeing a white Torana sedan with Victorian license plates in the area that day.
Police tracked down every similar car they could find, even contacting authorities in Victoria.
One man was cleared after extensive questioning and nothing concrete came up.
Another potential tip came up weeks later after a man said he found a set of house keys near Rhianna's route.
The man said he'd seen the keys earlier but didn't report it immediately.
By the time police checked, the keys were gone.
Detectives also received a tip that Rhianna was being held in an apartment building on Anzac Highway in Kurralta Park.
Officers immediately raided the location, searching the premises thoroughly.
However, they found no sign of Rhianna, and the lead turned out to be a false alarm.
Detectives followed up on other numerous tips they received but most of them were unreliable.
"Every day I gave an interview and I was trying to encourage people to call and I think by the 25th of November there were 1,600 calls and on one day we received 140," said the then lead detective.
As weeks passed with no breakthrough, police offered a $100,000 reward for information.
They also kept Rhianna's case in the news, hoping someone might remember something new.
Despite all these efforts, no arrests were ever made.
After months of intensive investigation with no positive results, the case gradually went cold.
Potential Theories in Rhianna's Case
Over the years, investigators have explored several possible explanations for Rhianna's disappearance.
While nothing has been proven, these theories remain the most plausible scenarios:
1) Abduction by Someone She Knew:
Retired Detective Allen Arthur strongly believes Rhianna was abducted by someone from her own community.
He noted the killer likely lived "closer than people think."
This theory suggests Rhianna may have encountered someone familiar on her walk home - perhaps a neighbor, local worker, or acquaintance who took advantage of her being alone.
2) Connection to 'Mr. Cruel'
Around the time of Rhianna's disappearance, Victoria's notorious predator Mr Cruel was very much active.
He attacked and raped young girls in nearby Melbourne between 1987-1991.
Two of his known victims survived while his last known victim was found murdered.
However, after an extensive investigation, police found no direct evidence linking him to Rhianna's case.
The different methods (Mr. Cruel broke into homes) and lack of similar crimes in South Australia made this theory unlikely.
3) Abduction by Stranger
With the bus strike forcing Rhianna to walk, someone may have spotted the vulnerable girl alone.
The short distance between verified sightings and her home suggests she was taken quickly by someone passing through the area.
The white Torana sedan reported by witnesses could fit this scenario but authorities haven't confirmed this theory.
Also, the undisturbed state of Rhianna's home suggests she may have returned briefly before encountering trouble.
Some investigators suspect she may have been lured out of her home by her abductor because the television was on when her mother returned.
Despite these theories, the case lacks physical evidence to confirm any scenario.
The truth may depend on someone finally coming forward with crucial information after all these years.
Ongoing Efforts
Decades after Rhianna Barreau disappeared, the case remains open.
Even though authorities think Rihanna was murdered, South Australia Police's cold case unit continues to review evidence.
According to Crime Stoppers, there is a $1 million reward for any information that can help solve this cold case.
Investigators periodically re-examine witness statements and forensic materials, hoping advances in technology might reveal new clues.
Detectives believe someone in the community knows what happened.
They urge anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward.
Even now, a single tip could break the case and Rhianna’s family deserves to know what happened to their daughter in 1992.
While leads have gone cold, cold case investigators haven’t given up.
The mystery endures, but so does the hope that one day, the truth will emerge.
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