A toddler vanished from a babysitter's home in rural Victoria. Months later, his body turned up in a reservoir. More than two decades on, no one has ever been convicted.
Background
Jaidyn Raymond Leskie was born April 30, 1996, to Bilynda Williams and Brett Leskie in Victoria, Australia. In June 1997, 13-month-old Jaidyn was being cared for by his mother's boyfriend, Greg Domaszewicz, at his home in Newborough.
The Disappearance
On the night of June 14, 1997, Jaidyn disappeared from Domaszewicz's home. The evening was marked by unusual disturbances, including a pig's head being thrown at the house, complicating the picture for investigators from the start. What exactly happened to Jaidyn that night has never been established.
The Search and Discovery
A large-scale search followed, reported at the time to be one of the biggest in Victoria since the 1967 disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt. Jaidyn's body was found on January 1, 1998, in Blue Rock Dam, roughly 18 kilometers north of Moe. The cold water had preserved his remains through winter. He is believed to have died of head injuries.
Trial and Acquittal
Greg Domaszewicz was charged with Jaidyn's murder but was acquitted by a jury in December 1998.
The 2006 Inquest
Authorities initially decided in 2002 not to hold an inquest, but one was eventually convened in 2006. That inquest found Domaszewicz had "participated" in Jaidyn's death and likely disposed of his body — a finding his legal team argued was shaped by ongoing media pressure. Because he had already been acquitted at trial, Victoria's double jeopardy laws prevented any further prosecution based on the inquest's findings.
Legacy
The case pushed Jaidyn's mother to campaign for reform of double jeopardy laws in Victoria. Nearly a decade after his death, a babysitter-vetting resource was released in his memory, aimed at helping parents choose safer childcare arrangements. The case remains formally unsolved.
FAQ
Was anyone ever convicted in Jaidyn Leskie's death?
No. Greg Domaszewicz was tried and acquitted in 1998, and double jeopardy laws have prevented further prosecution since.
How did Jaidyn Leskie die?
He is believed to have died of head injuries, though the full circumstances were never conclusively established.
Where was Jaidyn Leskie's body found?
In Blue Rock Dam, about 18 kilometers north of Moe, Victoria, in January 1998.