A year after the coroner condemned the police for their incompetence, there seems to be no closer resolution to the 2007 case.
When Kieffen Raggett’s body was discovered in a shallow waterhole near a small town in the Northern Territory, law enforcement immediately claimed his death was accidental.
Despite evidence suggesting otherwise—such as plate-sized rocks concealed in the eight-year-old's pants, which were intended to hide his body in the thigh-deep billabong for two days—and the presence of tracks leading to the waterhole, the police dismissed suspicions raised by guardians.
Kieffen Raggett was found deceased in a Borroloola waterhole with large rocks in his pockets. He bore two head injuries that appeared consistent with a blow from behind and was known to be afraid of water.
The case was relegated to just another file for the coroner, taking three years for the police to conclude.
Last year, Territory’s Coroner Greg Cavanagh highlighted numerous errors made by the police during their investigation into Kieffen’s 2007 death in Borroloola, a fishing town nearly 954 km southeast of Darwin.
Cavanagh's inquiry revealed irrational police focus on proving the boy’s death as accidental, despite the perplexing presence of rocks in his clothing. Inadequate searches were conducted around the site, crucial information wasn't provided to senior officers, evidence was mishandled or disregarded, and the delay led to the loss of DNA evidence.
Northern Territory Police expressed regret to Kieffen's family upon Cavanagh’s disclosure of his findings in March of the previous year. Superintendent Kristopher Evans acknowledged the community's justified expectations from law enforcement, admitting a failure to meet those expectations.
Cavanagh notified the Police Commissioner of potential criminal implications based on his findings. However, over a year later, there are no indications of progress towards justice for Kieffen and his family.
According to information obtained by The Herald, some of the boy’s close relatives claim they haven’t been updated on the investigation's progress or had any communication with the police since the apology.
The NT police have not disclosed the number of detectives working on the case and have yet to form a dedicated task force.
A suspect identified in the coroner’s report remains uncharged, and local opinions suggest he may not be the most likely culprit.
Allegations also exist regarding an alleged child sex offender still present in Borroloola, despite previous accusations of a different child sex offense.
Cliff Taylor, Kieffen’s guardian and the spouse of the boy’s aunt Adrianne Raggett, expressed frustration, feeling left in the dark about the investigation's status.
Cavanagh identified several local individuals as potential suspects, with one receiving special attention. However, the man's name was omitted from the report due to his involvement in separate child sex crimes at the time of the inquest.
DNA evidence linked this individual to a XXXX beer can at the waterhole. The suspect claimed discarding the can while aiding in the search for Kieffen, and mentioned a lost red shirt similar to the one found near the waterhole. Currently imprisoned for unrelated sexual assaults, the suspect had reasons for his absence at Kieffen's funeral, backed by witnesses who have since passed away.
The Herald obtained sentencing remarks for the suspect's separate sexual assault charges, revealing his admission to one assault and his claim of being a victim of child sex abuse himself.
Another suspected child molester, separate from this case, reportedly resides in the area, as per community sources.
When questioned, the NT police reported an arrest made in July of the prior year for "historical child sex abuse," but did not confirm when or if the person would face court. They maintained the ongoing nature of the Kieffen case investigation and cited the inability to disclose details impacting their work.
Kieffen’s biological mother, Valerie O’Keefe, expressed a lack of communication with the police officer handling the case since the inquest in March of the preceding year and voiced her desire for updates on the ongoing investigation.
Mr. Taylor mentioned the family's contemplation of legal action against the police due to inadequate communication, usually only occurring on significant dates related to Kieffen, making the situation more distressing.
Given previous instances of police mishandling, the family fears a prolonged wait for resolution, paralleling past criticisms of NT police for their handling of other cases.
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