A coroner has concluded that a German backpacker, whose life was tragically cut short two decades ago, was most likely the victim of a crime with a sexual motive. This revelation comes as authorities continue to seek justice for Simone Strobel, whose untimely death in 2005 remains shrouded in mystery.

Simone had been exploring the scenic landscapes of New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region along with her boyfriend and two fellow travelers. However, the journey took a grim turn when she disappeared without a trace.

Just six days after her disappearance, Simone’s lifeless body was discovered, concealed under palm fronds at a sports ground in Lismore. The circumstances of her death have since fueled widespread speculation and concern.

Despite a previous inquest, the identification of several individuals of interest, and the offer of a million-dollar reward for any information leading to the resolution of her case, significant details about the events leading to her tragic demise remain elusive.

Today, the findings from a second coronial inquest were unveiled, shedding light on the possible motives behind the crime, yet leaving many questions unanswered, as the pursuit of justice for Simone Strobel continues.

While it could not name a specific killer or cause of death, it did offer possible insights into her murderer’s motivations.

“It is likely Simone’s killer had a sexual motive,” Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan wrote in her findings.

“It is probable her clothes were removed for a sexual motive before her body was pushed through the wire fence and concealed under palm fronds.

“I am unable to find … that Simone was not sexually assaulted.”

This differed from the findings of the 2007 inquest, which said Strobel was not sexually assaulted and ruled out sexual or other forms of gratification as a motive for her death.

The earlier inquest also found she likely died of suffocation or smothering asphyxia at the hands of her killer, but O’Sullivan was not able to find that as the most likely cause of death.

Instead, she delivered open findings that Strobel died as a result of homicide by a person or persons unknown, while acknowledging this may not satisfy the victim’s loved ones.

“This has been an extremely difficult process for Simone’s family,” she wrote.

“The trauma of losing a loved one in these circumstances and in a foreign country is unimaginable, and the family still do not have the answers that they are so desperately seeking.

“I express my heartfelt condolences and wish that the Strobel family will one day know the truth of what happened to Simone.”

Strobel’s then-boyfriend Tobias Moran, who now lives in Western Australia, was charged with murder in 2022.

But prosecutors opted not to proceed and the case was dropped, with $190,000 in compensation ordered to be paid.

O’Sullivan would not deliver an official finding that it was “very unlikely” Moran was involved in the death.

But on the “balance of probabilities” she believed it was unlikely Moran and his sister Katrin Suckfuell were involved and unlikely he could have acted alone in killing and disposing of Strobel.

The coroner recommended the case be referred to the NSW Homicide Squad’s unsolved homicide team and suggested they review male DNA recovered from Strobel’s black top and conduct further DNA analysis on other evidence.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.