“He has been in contact with the police primarily in the last four to five years,” he said, clarifying that was from 2020 onwards.
Lowe described Cauchi as “itinerant”, moving from Kangaroo Point and Carina in Brisbane to his family’s home “in the southern police region”, and said his family was aware he was interstate but did not have regular contact.
“It is periodic contact where he may respond to a text message,” he said.
“To my knowledge he is a single man.”
Lowe said Cauchi was diagnosed with a mental illness when he was 17.
Police believe Cauchi lived with schizophrenia and used drugs including methamphetamine and psychedelics.
On Sunday, NSW Police said Cauchi had recently moved to Sydney and had rented a storage unit in the inner city.
They were investigating a potential history of targeting women.
Cauchi had listed himself on Empire Escorts, a website on which anyone can upload a profile and solicit for sex work, in Sydney in June last year.
Unlike some listings, Cauchi’s did not feature explicit photographs of him.
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Six days ago, he posted on a Bondi Facebook page asking if anyone would like to join him for a surf. He had previously also posted looking for “someone who does astrophotography that doesnt [sic] mind me tagging along to learn a bit” and joined Facebook pages for singles in NSW and nudists in Melbourne.
Cauchi was also a prolific online business reviewer, posting his verdicts on a Toowoomba strip club (“This is a great place, I loved it! The staff and girls were fantastic”), Palm Beach (“a beautiful place”) and a Chippendale cafe (“terrible” food, rude staff).
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au) or Beyond Blue on1300 22 4636 (and see beyondblue.org.au).
Source Agencies
