UPDATE: A notorious child sex offender, Errol George Radan, has died in his prison cell, leaving potential secrets about the abduction of two girls from over 50 years ago buried with him. Radan, aged 83, passed away on October 26, 2022, while serving time at Queensland’s Wolston Correctional Centre. His death raises urgent questions about the mysterious disappearances of Joanne Ratcliffe, 11, and Kirste Gordon, 4, who vanished from Adelaide Oval on August 25, 1973.
The two girls went to the toilet at 3:45 PM that day and never returned, and their remains have never been found. Radan was considered a key suspect in their disappearance, but authorities were unable to secure an interview with him before his death. Investigators had attempted to question him as early as 2019, but he refused to cooperate, leaving critical questions unanswered.
In 2025, private investigators launched a search focused on areas between Jamestown and Orroroo in South Australia’s Mid North, where a mysterious bone fragment was discovered. The South Australian Police (SAPOL) confirmed they are aware of this finding and will engage with investigators if the fragment is verified as human. “The disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon remains an active and ongoing investigation,” stated a police spokeswoman.
Radan’s death came after a prolonged period of health decline. He was transferred to the palliative care unit of Princess Alexandra Hospital following a stroke just a week before he died. Despite being prescribed medications for serious health conditions, he refused treatment, stating, “I will not enter into any discussion concerning my decision.” His refusal to take prescribed medications, including dabigatran, which could have mitigated his stroke risk, significantly contributed to his death, according to State Coroner Terry Ryan.
Radan had spent nearly four decades incarcerated for heinous offenses involving minors, and at the time of his passing, he had been under an indefinite detention order. His health deteriorated rapidly after he was found unresponsive in his cell on October 19, 2022. Police found no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, confirming it was due to natural causes.
Despite Radan’s long history of criminal behavior, authorities have not definitively labeled him as a suspect in the Ratcliffe and Gordon case. The lack of closure for the families of the missing girls highlights the emotional toll of this unresolved investigation. Radan’s death means that any insight he could have provided into their fate has vanished.
As the investigation into the bone fragment continues, the community and families of the missing girls await answers. The SAPOL remains committed to exploring all leads, but the loss of Radan leaves a chilling void in the quest for justice. The case remains open, with hope for resolution still alive among those seeking the truth about what happened to Joanne and Kirste.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops, and the search for the truth continues.
