The father of Katie Walker, a 46-year-old mother who disappeared near a Sydney beach in May, disputes the police theory that she took her own life. Bassam Shlewet suggests a mystery man may be involved and points to several factors he believes contradict a suicide conclusion.
Walker was last seen on CCTV on May 23 walking down Alexander Street in Tamarama around lunchtime. Investigators theorize she descended a staircase to the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, climbed over rocks, and entered the ocean. She was reportedly wearing high-heeled boots, jeans, a black coat, and carrying a $2,000 Versace handbag.
"Katie was not dressed to commit suicide, and you wouldn't go there to do it," Shlewet told the Daily Mail. He also noted that her phone pinged at a Bondi cell tower later that evening, and she had contacted Flight Centre days earlier to inquire about purchasing plane tickets back to the UK with cash. Upon entering her Darling Point apartment in early June, police found two suitcases packed and ready for travel.
Shlewet detailed his daughter's final weeks, explaining that she had recently divorced her US-based wellness guru ex-husband, Dean Taraborelli. Upon returning to Australia to reconnect with her two teenage children from a previous relationship, Walker found her finances in disarray. She had arrived in Sydney in February with funds from a $500,000 divorce settlement, but by the time she vanished, her accounts were frozen and depleted.
Walker had spent time in Dubai before arriving in Sydney, during which time she made a series of investments that significantly impacted her funds. Her father had been assisting her with rent for her $995-per-week Darling Point apartment and providing additional financial support. However, she was actively planning to leave Australia to avoid overstaying her visa. She had inquired about staying with friends in Dubai after her departure from Australia, but when they could not accommodate her, she contacted Flight Centre.
Texts between Walker and her father from late March to early June show her father inquiring about money he had sent. Walker's delayed responses in earlier messages were attributed to phone issues, which is why her father was not immediately alarmed by her lack of communication between May 15 and June 2. On June 2, after speaking with the father of her children, they realized she had been out of contact for about nine days. A missing persons report was filed with NSW Police the same day.
Shlewet and his son traveled to Sydney to investigate, speaking with friends, neighbors, and police, and reviewing CCTV footage. Shlewet learned that his daughter had met two men at the Royal Oak in Double Bay a few weeks prior to her disappearance. Police reportedly questioned these men and cleared them of any wrongdoing. He also mentioned an incident in Dubai where a man broke into her hotel room. She later encountered the same man on a Sydney beach, leading Shlewet to question if this individual is hiding her.
Shlewet has since returned to the UK and hired a private investigator. He has shared all gathered information with the police, but stated he has not heard from them since July 9. Walker is described as slim, approximately 172 cm tall, with brown eyes, long brown hair, and a small black butterfly tattoo on her right hand. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact NSW Police.