Rick Thorburn, the convicted murderer of his foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer, has been found dead in his prison cell at Woodford Correctional Centre in Queensland. The 64-year-old was serving a life sentence for the 2015 murder of the 12-year-old, whose body was discovered along the banks of the Pimpama River on the Gold Coast.
Thorburn was found unresponsive in his single cell around 10pm, according to a statement from Queensland Corrective Services. Despite the immediate response from officers, who attempted to revive him, their efforts were unsuccessful. The death has now been reported to the police, and Queensland Corrective Services will aid in the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding Thorburn’s death have raised questions, as he was serving a lengthy prison term for a crime that horrified the nation. The case involved a tragic attempt to cover up his biological son Trent’s sexual assault of Tiahleigh, which ultimately led to her murder.
Following established protocol, the incident will also be referred to the coroner for further examination.
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