The Murder of Rachel Barber: The Horrific Story of a Psychopathic Nanny Who Tried to Steal Someone's Identity (12 photos)

Nannying seems like the perfect job: flexible hours, no diplomas, and parents get peace of mind for little money. It all sounds perfect, but there's a catch. When we hire a nanny, we're introducing a stranger into our children's lives. And that stranger can be dangerous.

Rachel Barber's story is a terrifying example of how trusting a stranger can ruin a life. Caroline Reed Robertson, the Barber family's nanny, didn't just enter their home—she took their daughter, hoping to steal her identity. Want to know how envy turned caregiving into a nightmare? Read on—the truth will give you goosebumps!





The Barber Family Nanny

In 1996, the Melbourne Barber family hired 19-year-old Caroline Reid Robertson as a nanny. She was responsible for looking after three children: 7-year-old Ashley, 9-year-old Heather, and 13-year-old Rachel, who, despite her age, was already quite independent. The girls' parents spent a lot of time at work and wanted to ensure their children ate on time, stayed healthy, and did their homework.



Rachel Barber

The girls quickly hit it off with their nanny, and everything was going well. But one day, Rachel Barber disappeared on her way home from school. Since the missing child came from a well-off family, who had never run away or associated with questionable company before, the situation immediately raised serious concerns. That same day, when Rachel didn't return home, the police launched an active search.

The missing schoolgirl deserves more detail. Rachel Barber had just recently celebrated her 15th birthday. She was an obedient daughter and a diligent student. She was described as bright, expressive, and graceful. Rachel was passionate about dancing and seriously considered a modeling career—she had all the makings of a future magazine cover. She had many friends and was dating a boy from her school.





Rachel Barber with her boyfriend Manny

Nanny Caroline

Nanny Caroline Robertson was only four years older than Rachel, but she could be considered Rachel's complete opposite. She did poorly in school, had no friends, and her life was marred by numerous insecurities. The main reasons were her excess weight and epilepsy. During her two years working for the Barber family, Caroline became close to Rachel. Moreover, the nanny developed a strange, unhealthy attachment to the teenager.



Caroline Robertson

In 1997, Robertson took several photographs of Rachel, ostensibly for a project. About a year later, she informed the girl's mother that the photos had attracted the attention of a serious modeling executive. In the summer of 1998, Caroline asked Rachel's sister for her birth certificate information, explaining that she needed it to fill out an application at a modeling agency.

Meanwhile, Robertson secretly used Rachel Barber's information and photographs to obtain a copy of her birth certificate. Police believe she was already planning the murder and waiting for the opportune moment. The day before Rachel's disappearance, Sunday, February 28, 1999, Robertson called her ward twice in the evening, and they discussed something. It was these facts that made the nanny the prime suspect in the Barber case.

The Day of the Murder

On March 1, 1999, Rachel's father, as usual, drove her to the tram stop where she was heading to dance school. At 9:30 AM, they said goodbye, agreeing to meet at the same stop at 6:15 PM. When the father didn't find his daughter at the agreed-upon location that evening, he immediately contacted the police.



Rachel's parents with her missing person report

Interviewing Rachel's friends and classmates helped detectives reconstruct her day. Upon arriving at school, she met her boyfriend, Emmanuel Corella, and chatted briefly. By 10:15, she was already in class. The day proceeded normally, although toward the end of classes, Rachel told one of her friends that she wouldn't be going home after school.

She said she was "going to make a lot of money" that evening. She also added that it "had something to do with someone he didn't know." That same day, Rachel told her boyfriend that she'd been eyeing a pair of $100 shoes at the store that she'd been coveting for a long time. She hinted that she'd soon have the money to buy them.



One of the last photos of the girl

Rachel Barber left school with her friends, but at 5:45 PM, she said she was in a hurry and continued on alone. Investigators later discovered that she met Caroline Robertson, and they went to the babysitter's house together. Robertson promised Rachel $100 for participating in a "small psychological experiment."

A Body in the Closet

Rachel was last seen alive at 6:45 PM by one of the witnesses found by police. He said the girl was walking with Caroline from the bus stop toward the babysitter's house. Investigators know what happened next only from the killer's own account. At home, Caroline and Rachel made pizza, which the babysitter laced with sleeping pills.



Rachel Barber (center) with school friends

They ate, after which Robertson offered Rachel alcohol, but she declined. Then Caroline asked Rachel to do a dance routine and think happy thoughts. When the girl's back was turned, the nanny strangled her with an old telephone cord.

Rachel's body was kept in a closet for two days; Caroline didn't even remove the noose from her neck. On March 2, her father, David Reed, visited the killer. While he was in the apartment, the strangled girl's body was still lying in the closet behind the wall, in the bedroom. The next day, Caroline wrapped the body in two blankets, placed it in a large bag, and took it by taxi out of town to her father's farm in Kilmore. She told the taxi driver the bag contained a garden sculpture. There, Caroline buried the body in a shallow grave in a secluded spot near a dam.

The Arrest of the Killer

On March 12, police arrived at Caroline Robertson's rented apartment. The officers had keys to the front door given to them by the landlord. However, the door was locked from the inside, and they were unable to gain entry. No one answered the phone. The police were forced to call the fire brigade, who were able to enter the apartment through a bedroom window later that evening.



The place where the killer hid the body

Caroline was found unconscious on the floor of the apartment. Paramedics arrived and were able to revive her. It turned out that the police's appearance at the door triggered an epileptic seizure. During a search of one of the rooms, they found items that matched the size of the missing woman. In addition, an application for a copy of a birth certificate in the name of Rachel Elizabeth Barber was found in a desk drawer.

Caroline Robertson was taken to the hospital. On the evening of March 12, Detective Patterson conducted her initial interrogation in her hospital room, and the killer confessed. The next day, police discovered Rachel's body in a shallow pit on a farm in Kilmore. A telephone cord was still tightly wrapped around her neck.

Motive for the Crime

While investigating this relatively straightforward case, detectives nevertheless encountered several odd circumstances. It turned out that Robertson had made copies of Rachel Barber's documents for a reason. She had already registered a credit card with a $10,000 limit in the girl's name. Furthermore, she had attempted to obtain a car loan, despite not even having a driver's license.



The Barber family at their daughter Rachel's funeral

Caroline envied the beautiful, successful, and goal-oriented Rachel. This envy was so strong that she decided on more than just murder. Robertson wanted to steal her victim's identity, leave Melbourne, and start a new life with her documents. Diaries were discovered in her possession, in which entries about Buddhism were intricately intertwined with plans to live under a false name.

Robertson created a new biography for herself, full of vivid and unusual details that were meant to make her story interesting. She also wrote about her passionate love for Barber, which she tried unsuccessfully to overcome. Of course, all of this had deep roots. A psychiatric examination revealed that the killer had serious mental disorders, making her a danger to society.

Trial and Sentence

Despite serious psychiatric diagnoses, Caroline Robertson was found sane and the case went to trial. During the trial, the defendant repented, sobbed, and asked for forgiveness from the deceased girl's parents. However, the judge noted that her remorse was not sincere—her primary motive was fear for her future.



Caroline Robertson in Court

Robertson's worries were well-founded—the court sentenced her to 20 years in prison. According to the sentence, she was eligible for parole only after 14 and a half years. Caroline changed dramatically in prison. In 2013, her photo was shown to Rachel's parents. Michael and Elizabeth Barber were stunned: their daughter's killer had lost a significant amount of weight, grown her hair long, and bore a striking resemblance to Rachel!

In 2013, Caroline applied for parole, but Rachel's relatives publicly protested. Ultimately, the criminal remained behind bars. She was released only in January 2015, when the Barber family decided she had atoned for her guilt. One of Caroline's cellmates told the press that, over the years of their interactions, Caroline had never once wanted to discuss her horrific act and showed no signs of remorse.



Caroline Robertson in 2013

Echoes of Tragedy: Rachel's Story in Literature and Film

Of course, Rachel's parents, crushed by grief, wanted to preserve Rachel's memory for posterity. This desire became especially clear after the public outcry demonstrated that people truly cared about the details of this tragedy. The girl's mother, Elizabeth Southall, co-authored the book "Perfect Victim" with journalist Megan Norris. In it, she expressed the full pain of her loss, telling stories of her daughter—her dreams of becoming a dancer, her kindness, and the vibrant life cut short so abruptly. Published in 2002, the book quickly resonated with readers. It not only recounted the tragedy but also showed how the family coped with the loss, trying to find meaning in it.



Still from the TV series "In Her Skin"

In 2009, Rachel's story became the basis for the film "In Her Skin." The film was originally titled "How to Change in 9 Weeks"—the phrase written on the cover of Caroline's notebook, where she meticulously planned Rachel's murder. Director Simone North created the drama, starring Guy Pearce, Miranda Otto, and Samara Weaving, who plays Caroline. The film faithfully recreates the events of 1999, focusing not only on the gruesome details of the crime but also on the emotional state of the Barber family.

Rachel Barber's story is a chilling reminder of how blind trust can lead to tragedy. Is it possible to recognize the hidden threat in the person entrusted with the most precious thing—a child? What signs do you think parents should look for when choosing a nanny? Let's discuss!