The 25-year-old’s physique was discovered on the base of Level Cartwright cliffs in Mooloolaba on the morning of July 18, 1997.
Her white Suzuki Cino hatchback was discovered within the carpark together with a wine cask and glass close by.
Investigators initially declared there have been no suspicious circumstances surrounding her loss of life however police later re-opened the case in 2009.
Queensland Police then introduced a $500,000 reward in June 2023 for data that led to her killer’s arrest and conviction.
Police confirmed in 2023 they had been approaching all authentic witnesses.
Queensland detectives had travelled to Victoria to talk to Lees in late June that 12 months however had been unable to seek out him.
His automobile was discovered the next day and on June 27, he was seen at a Waurn Ponds purchasing centre after which leaving a Shepparton practice station.
After his arrest yesterday Lees was taken to Hornsby Police Station yesterday the place he was charged with the warrant, assaulting a police officer in execution of responsibility with out aggravated bodily hurt, coping with id data to commit an indictable offence and possessing id data to commit an indictable offence.
Police may also allege Lees tried to chunk an officer whereas he was in custody.
He was refused bail to look at Parramatta Native Court docket in the present day.
NSW Police mentioned it was understood the Queensland Police Service will apply for his extradition.
Rose had left her tight-knit household behind in Victoria to maneuver to Queensland for a romance with then-44-year-old Lees.
Rose’s sister Fiona Ratcliffe beforehand appealed to the general public for data into her sister’s loss of life.
“My sister Meaghan was a fun-loving, vivid, younger lady,” Ratcliffe mentioned.
“Meaghan and I shared many reminiscences over time, together with her educating myself to drive.”