Disappearance of Revelle Balmain

Revelle Sabine Balmain (11 July 1972 – 5 November 1994) was an Australian model, dancer and escort who mysteriously disappeared from the Sydney suburb of Kingsford in early November 1994. Balmain has never been heard from since.

Background Balmain was planning to visit Japan for her fourth six-week tour of cabarets, employed as a hostess. She had been working as a part-time model and as an escort to establish herself, and she was planning to finish escort work so that she could fully concentrate on her entertainment career.

On 5 November 1994, Balmain, who was living in Sydney, had arranged to meet her mother at Newcastle Station for lunch.

Investigation On the following day, 5 November, Balmain's bag, make-up, diary, credit cards, and keys to her Bellevue Hill flat were found scattered around several Kingsford streets. One of her shell-studded platform shoes was retrieved from one street; the other shoe was found in another street.

In May 1999, the Deputy State Coroner, John Abernethy, handed down an open finding into Balmain's presumed death. The coronial inquiry, however, suggested that the final client she had visited that day was a primary suspect, but fell short of recommending charges.

Items belonging to Balmain, including her keys, passport, and plane ticket were also found in the near the home of her final client, Gavin Owen Samer. In 2008, forensic evidence suggested that Balmain was murdered in Samer's house. Members of Balmain's family also believe that there were major flaws in the police investigation of the disappearance.