Simone Strobel was a 25-year-old German kindergarten teacher backpacking in Lismore in 2005 when she was murdered.

Her murder investigation captured the attention of not only people in Lismore and the Northern Rivers but also people all around Australia.

The Lismore App has been told that a fresh Inquest into the death of Simone Strobel was ordered after the discovery of new evidence.

In 2005, Simone had been with her boyfriend, Tobias Suckfuell, now known as Tobias Moran, Tobias’s sister and her friend. Tobias was a suspect; however, there was no evidence to tie him to the murder.

Tobias and Simone had argued after a night out at the Gollan Hotel.

Her body was found 6 days later concealed under palm fronds, 100m from the caravan park where she had stayed.

In the initial inquest, it was believed she was suffocated to death.

Insufficient evidence was found at the time to tie the murder to anyone.

This event caused much distress and grief in the community since the time of the event, and the nature of the unsolved crime has caused Simone's family much sorrow.

The Department of Community and Justice said, “A fresh Inquest into the death of Simone Strobel was ordered after the discovery of new evidence.

“A five-day hearing was held before State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan at the NSW Coroner’s Court Lidcombe from November 11 to November 15, 2024.”

What that evidence is, we will have to wait and see as the department said there are no further details available at this time for release.

Four years ago, a $1,000,000 reward was offered to help bring closure to the case, but the case has remained cold until this new evidence has come to light.  

For the full story of the tragedy surrounding Simone’s fate that was discussed in 2020, find the story here.