Rick Thorburn, a convicted child murderer serving a life sentence for the 2015 killing of 12-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer, has reportedly died by suicide in his prison cell at Woodford Correctional Centre, located in regional Queensland, Australia.
🔍 Thorburn Found Unresponsive in Cell
The 64-year-old was discovered unresponsive in his single-occupant cell around 10 PM on Friday, according to a statement released by Queensland Corrective Services (QCS). Emergency personnel and responding officers attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
"The 64-year-old man was accommodated in a single cell and was found unresponsive... efforts to revive him were unsuccessful," said a QCS spokesperson.
Thorburn's death marks the culmination of multiple prior suicide attempts, with incidents previously recorded in September 2020, August 2022, and as recently as February 2024.
📌 Background: The Tiahleigh Palmer Case
Thorburn was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 after pleading guilty to the murder of schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer. The tragic case shocked the nation. Investigations revealed that Thorburn killed Tiahleigh after discovering that his 19-year-old son, Trent Thorburn, had been involved in an incestuous sexual relationship with the young girl and believed she may have been pregnant.
Although Thorburn initially reported her missing on October 30, 2015, claiming he had dropped her off at school that morning, her body was tragically found six days later on the banks of the Pimpama River by local fishermen. An autopsy later revealed that Tiahleigh was not pregnant at the time of her death.
⚖️ Legal Consequences for the Thorburn Family
The Thorburn family was engulfed in legal troubles following the investigation:
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Trent Thorburn was sentenced to four years in prison for incest, perjury, and attempting to pervert the course of justice, but served only 16 months.
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Joshua Thorburn, Rick’s elder son, received a three-month sentence for perjury and attempting to obstruct justice.
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Julene Thorburn, Rick’s wife, served six months in prison on similar charges.
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Rick Thorburn was also convicted of 13 child sex offences in unrelated cases involving two other underage girls.
📌 Lack of Remorse & Inquest Findings
In her inquest report, Queensland’s Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley stated that Thorburn had shown no remorse for the murder of Tiahleigh. Although he pleaded guilty, Thorburn claimed her death was accidental due to suffocation — a claim that investigators and the court did not fully accept.
⚠️ Support Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, please contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 (Australia). Support is available 24/7.
Source: DailyMail UK
