What happened to Phoebe Handsjuk and Bailee Schneider?
Two lives were lost while trying to break free from the same man, and two families fighting for justice. The deaths of Phoebe and Bailee continue to be among Australia’s most perplexing mysteries.
Phoebe was born on the 9th of May 1986.
She was a spirited individual who delighted in the vast, imaginative realm of her own mind. As a young girl, she thrived on physical activities and had a profound affinity for nature, particularly the untamed allure of the ocean. Socializing seemed to be an integral part of her being, and she possessed an insatiable appetite for it, making her popular among her peers at school.
Moreover, Phoebe was known for her athleticism and agility, boasting remarkable speed as a runner. Notably, she found camaraderie and joy in playing basketball alongside her close circle of friends on a team.
At a young age, Phoebe dabbled in drug experimentation, wrestling with alcohol as a coping mechanism for her anxieties. Her battles included depression, for which she sought solace in medication and counseling.
As a young woman, Phoebe exuded sensitivity, care, and compassion. Her artistic talents and creativity shone brightly, complemented by her strong will and occasional quick temper. She possessed a mischievous, playful sense of humor, while also experiencing deep emotions that sometimes led to melancholy. Her staunch sense of justice was undeniable.
Her loyalty knew no bounds, and as a friend, you could always rely on her unwavering support. Phoebe fiercely protected her family and cherished her brothers. Her bond with her Grandmother was truly special, as she confided in her frequently.
Phoebe had grand aspirations for her future, nurturing a strong desire to travel abroad and engage in aid work in India.
At the age of 23, Handsjuk took on the role of a receptionist at the Linley Godfrey hair salon in South Yarra. During this period, she crossed paths with Antony Hampel, a 39-year-old charismatic events promoter who happened to be one of the salon’s clients. Notably, Antony was the son of Supreme Court Judge George Hampel and stepmother of County Court Judge Felicity Hampel.
Over time, Handsjuk and Hampel developed a connection and began dating for a duration of five months. As their relationship grew, she eventually moved into his residence, the Balancea Apartment on St. Kilda Road, in October 2009.
The luxury Balancea Apartments, are nestled between Albert Park Lake and Fawkner Park along St Kilda Road. Along the 84 apartments, tenants also have access to the heated indoor pool, sauna, spa, steam room, gym, 24-hour concierge, and an exquisite Italian restaurant.
The average price for an apartment is $1.5 million.
Rocky relationship
Their differences in lifestyle and background often led to raised eyebrows and skepticism from those around them. Many couldn’t understand what brought these two seemingly opposite individuals together.
Phoebe’s artistry was her passion, and she would often immerse herself in her work, expressing her emotions and perspectives through her art. She lived a simple life, cherishing experiences and connections over material possessions. Her bohemian lifestyle allowed her to explore the world, gather inspiration from various cultures, and never conform to societal norms.
Antony, on the other hand, was accustomed to a life of luxury, attending extravagant parties, and networking with influential people in high society. His world revolved around business deals, profits, and maintaining a polished image to uphold his family’s reputation.
Phoebe’s bohemian lifestyle clashed with the expectations set by Antony’s high society circles.
In the months preceding her passing, Phoebe went through several instances of leaving Antony, during which she confided in her family and therapist, expressing her belief that she could never meet Antony’s expectations. It appeared that Antony’s behavior towards her was emotionally and verbally harmful, exacerbating Phoebe’s struggles with depression and alcohol dependency. In one of their final conversations, she also voiced her concerns about Antony’s controlling nature and that he isolated her from her friends.
The last week of her life
One of Phoebe’s closest confidants was her grandmother. In the days leading up to her passing, Phoebe visited her grandmother and revealed her intention to leave Antony. However, her grandmother convinced her to return to the apartment and, at least, end the relationship face-to-face on good terms. It’s a decision her grandmother regrets to this day.
Phoebe’s last week was marked by turmoil, and it began with a Skype call to her mother. Her mother was aware that Phoebe had broken up with Antony, so she was surprised to see Phoebe back in the apartment. During the Skype call, her mother inquired if they had resolved everything, but Phoebe simply raised her finger to signal silence. It was evident that she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Instead, Phoebe mentioned that they were just watching a movie in the other room, avoiding the topic.
The day after that Skype call on Monday morning Phoebe saw her psychologist who reported her mood as very low and indicated being distressed regarding her relationship.
On the same evening, Phoebe and Antony went to dinner with their friends Matt and Julia Rockman, but it turned out to be a disaster. During the dinner, Phoebe started opening up to Julia Rockman, whom she was very fond of, about her struggles and true feelings. However, the conversation quickly changed as Antony shut her down and prevented her from expressing her thoughts and emotions truthfully.
The friends stated that the dinner abruptly ended, and once they returned home, Phoebe and Antony got into a heated argument in the car park. Phoebe left the scene in tears and reached out to an old party buddy, insisting on meeting for a drink at a City Bar.
According to the party buddy, they had a few drinks but Phoebe was not out of control. They only stayed at the bar for about an hour as it was a Monday and the bar closed early. However, during that short time, Phoebe’s phone rang incessantly. Phone records later revealed that within one hour that night, Antony called Phoebe 27 times.
She got agitated by Anonty’s repeated phone calls and ended up throwing her iPhone across the street.
Phoebe continued on her own path into the night and eventually found herself at her mom’s house, where she had a lengthy conversation with her mom’s partner about her relationship with Antony. The phone records showed that by Tuesday morning, she had returned to the apartment she shared with Antony, who had already left for work.
It was evident that Phoebe was in desperate need of help as she made calls to the crisis line at Alfred Hospital, her doctor, and psychologist Joanna Jonah Young. During her half-hour conversation with Joanna Young, Phoebe expressed distress about her drinking and her relationship. Despite the concerns raised during the conversation, Joanna Young did not contact a crisis assessment team to check on Phoebe’s well-being.
Shortly before 4 pm, Phoebe sent a text to her grandmother Jeanette, reassuring her that she was okay and would call her the following day. Phoebe ventured out again.
Tomato soup message — and the mystery about her phone
On Tuesday, Phoebe met with friends in Melbourne, and there is limited information available about that day.
On Wednesday, around 10:30 am, a peculiar tomato soup message was sent from Phoebe’s iPhone.
It’s worth noting that earlier on Monday night, Phoebe had thrown this iPhone across the street during an incident. She had two phones, the iPhone, which actually belonged to Antony and an old Nokia phone. Until today the Nokia phone has never been found.
Antony asserted that Phoebe returned with the iPhone on Tuesday, and its screen was broken, which is why she couldn’t respond to calls and messages. He claimed to have taken the iPhone to a repair shop on Wednesday.
However, some doubts arose regarding the authenticity of the tomato soup message. Phoebe’s family expressed their belief that the message didn’t sound like something Phoebe would have written herself. Additionally, questions were raised about how she could have composed a message without any spelling mistakes on an iPhone, that was allegedly damaged to the extent that she couldn’t even answer a phone call.
The circumstances surrounding the tomato soup message and the condition of Phoebe’s iPhone became points of contention, adding further complexity to the investigation.
Over the course of the next two years, Antony’s narrative underwent multiple changes. Initially, he claimed that it was more likely he took her iPhone with him on Thursday, implying she could have written the tomato soup message on Wednesday. This scenario would also mean that Phoebe didn’t have her iPhone with her on the day of her death. However, contradicting Antony’s claim, at least one police officer and Phoebe’s dad recalled seeing Phoebe’s iPhone in the apartment on the night her body was discovered.
Regrettably, there is no concrete evidence to support either version of events. The repair shop has no recollection of when the phone was dropped off, and there are no records available. The only piece of evidence is a receipt provided by Antony’s father, George Hampel, who happens to be a retired Supreme Court Justice. This receipt indicates that he picked up the phone from the repair shop a few days after Phoebe’s passing.
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
On the day of Phoebe’s passing, Antony stated that she was peacefully asleep when he left for work around 8:30 in the morning. Phoebe had plans to have dinner with her father and Antony later in the evening. At about a quarter to nine, she sent an email and used the computer a couple of times.
Then, at 11:43 am, a fire alarm went off, and CCTV footage captured Phoebe with her dog as she exited the building. However, the fire alarm turned out to be a false alarm, and Phoebe returned to the building around 11:50 am. This was the last recorded image of Phoebe alive. She went back to her 12th-floor residence and used the computer again.
Between noon and 7 pm, the details of Phoebe’s activities are not known. We only know that at some point, Pheobe entered the garbage chute, resulting in her death.
According to Antony’s account, he arrived home shortly after 6 p.m. to a disconcerting scene: broken glass shards, a ripped pillow, and blood splatter across the keyboard and computer, but Phoebe was nowhere to be seen. Strangely, her purse, wallet, and keys were left on the kitchen counter. On the dining table, there were two used wine glasses, which were never examined for fingerprints. No one examined the liquid in them either.
At 6:51 pm, Phoebe’s dad attempted to call her iPhone to inform her that he would be running late for their dinner, but his call went straight to voicemail. What struck Phoebe’s family as particularly strange was that within one minute of her father’s call, Antony, for the first time ever, decided to call Phoebe’s father. Antony claimed that Phoebe’s iPhone was not in the apartment, yet he spontaneously called her dad to let him know she wasn’t home.
Despite discovering the apartment in disarray and Phoebe missing, Antony proceeded to have a beer, made several phone calls to friends and coworkers, and ordered takeaway food for one person. He ordered food from the same restaurant, they were supposed to have dinner with Phebe’s father. The food was delivered at 8:09 pm, and the delivery driver informed him about the presence of a significant police force outside the house at that time.
Antony reported he decided to go downstairs to report Phoebe as missing.
As Antony was placing the takeaway food order, a horrifying discovery was made by a concierge at approximately 7 pm. While searching for a broom in the ground-floor refuse room, the concierge noticed an obstruction from inside the room. After several attempts, she managed to open the door and came across a distressing sight — Phoebe lying in a pool of her own blood beside a trolley bin.
Phoebe suffered a harrowing fall, plummeting 40 meters to the ground floor, where she landed in a garbage compactor, resulting in severe injuries, almost severing her foot. Remarkably, she did not succumb immediately and remained alive. Despite her injuries, Phoebe mustered the strength to climb out of the wheely bin. In the darkness of the room, she struggled to find the exit, but unfortunately, her efforts were in vain.
Phoebe’s life came to a devastating end due to blood loss, alone in the dark, surrounded by other people’s discarded waste.
The investigation
Antony told the police immediately that Phoebe must have taken her own life and it seems the police indeed were swiftly convinced that Phoebe had taken her own life, as there seems to be no alternative explanation for the glaring inadequacies in their investigation. Firmly believing she was deceased, they declined the paramedics’ request to examine her for any signs of life, leaving the actual time of Phoebe’s death indeterminable.
Only two hours after Phoebe’s body had been found, the police made statements about Phoebe’s death being a suicide.
Because of this, police failed to collect all the CCTV footage from the building which had the potential of capturing anyone else involved in Phoebe’s death.
The building manager of Valencia apartments, Eric Giamorro, understood the significance of the CCTV footage from that fateful night and urged the police to take the system’s hard drive (DVR). The cameras operated on a two-day loop, which meant they recorded over previous footage every two days.
Surprisingly, the police departed from the Valencia apartments on the night of Phoebe’s death without obtaining any CCTV footage, leaving the cameras running. They also neglected to take any phones or computers, despite the presence of blood on the mouse pad. Eric Giamorro was perplexed by this decision, and the police merely mentioned they would inform him if they needed to collect or review the footage.
Two days later, the police contacted Eric, requesting the company responsible for servicing the CCTV system to collect the DVR and start the downloading process. The police essentially outsourced this task to a private company, despite being aware that the footage was overwritten every two days. As a result, only the footage from three or four cameras out of the 16 was successfully retrieved, leading to the loss of critical strategic camera footage.
Among the footage that remained uncollected was that of the underground car park, which served as an easy escape route for any potential perpetrator. The failure to secure the CCTV footage shocked Phoebe’s family, especially her grandfather- a retired detective. He asked Eric if he could access the hard drive to analyze it himself. Eric agreed, but when he went to retrieve the hard drive from the storage, it was nowhere to be found. He promptly reported the missing hard drive to the police and conducted thorough inquiries, but to this day, the hard drive remains unaccounted for.
The police did not seize any of Phoebe’s or Antony’s electronic devices on the night of Phoebe’s death. None of the laptops or mobile phones were examined.
They also did not test the blood found in the apartment for DNA. Police also failed to photograph or take samples of large shoe prints leading away from the apartment.
The official version
Victoria Police reached the conclusion that Phoebe’s death was a result of suicide, whereas the coroner had a different ruling, considering it a freak accident. According to the coroner’s findings, Phoebe’s final hours' involved heavy drinking, resulting in a blood alcohol level of 0.16, three times the legal limit. She had also ingested one or two sleeping pills of Stillnox.
The coroner’s opinion was that Phoebe had accidentally broken glass in her apartment. During an attempt to clean it up, she sustained cuts on her body. Later, she carried a garbage bag to the garbage chute. Due to her severely intoxicated state, she made the ill-fated decision to climb into the garbage chute on her own, leading to her tragic demise.
Everything that is wrong with the official version
The experiment
Phoebe’s grandfather and several experts have blown the lid on the ‘unsatisfactory’ police investigation with an experiment proving it would have been ‘virtually impossible’ to climb into the chute on her own.
The garbage chute has a 22cm latch. The opening is only slightly wider than a laptop.
The initial challenge is accessing the garbage chute since there are no apparent handholds or support structures nearby. Moreover, a crucial obstacle lies in the fact that once something is inserted into the chute, the door automatically closes, further complicating any attempt to enter the chute.
After conducting numerous experiments and facing repeated failures, a model finally managed, with some assistance, to submerge herself into the garbage chute. However, this achievement required her to raise her arms entirely above her head during the process.
This information holds significance because the investigating detectives, while analyzing the scene, concluded that Phoebe’s arms must have been by her side during the fall, considering the nature of her injuries.
Phoebe had several bruises on her arms and wrists, resembling marks of someone grabbing her. However, the police interpreted these bruises as injuries she sustained during the fall.
One of Phoebe’s friends added:
She hated being caged and she was claustrophobic!
I can’t see her ending her life that way
Upon careful examination of the garbage, it was evident that Phoebe had not disposed of any trash bags on that particular day. Furthermore, forensic testing showed the absence of Phoebe’s fingerprints on the handle or in the vicinity of the garbage chute.
Jeans and sunglasses
Another troubling aspect of this case is the discovery of Phoebe’s sunglasses next to her in the refuse room. It’s puzzling why she would take her sunglasses with her while attempting to climb into a garbage chute.
Furthermore, Phoebe’s body was found with her jeans down to her knees and her belt unbuckled. Considering that she fell feet first into the narrow garbage chute, it is highly unlikely that her trousers would have slipped down during the fall. In fact, one would expect them to be pushed upwards instead.
The second experiment
Phoebe’s grandfather and a team of experts decided to conduct an additional experiment to explore the possibility of someone pushing an unconscious person down the garbage chute. The results were surprising, as it turned out to be a relatively simple task. The person conducting the experiment could push the body into the chute while holding the door open simultaneously.
Interestingly, during this experiment, it was observed that having the victim’s jeans down to the knees could be advantageous in preventing the legs from spreading apart. This finding adds another layer of complexity to the investigation
Antony Hampel and his family
The security system
One of the most perplexing aspects of the investigation revolved around how Antony’s family and friends gained access to the building on the night in question without leaving any trace on the security swipe records. To reach the 12th floor, visitors needed to pass through multiple security doors that could only be unlocked with a coded chip. However, during the police investigation, it was discovered that Antony’s family members and friends were able to enter the building and his apartment without using a chip card or generating any record on the security system. This raises doubts about the reliability of the security system and the accuracy of the timeline provided by Antony regarding his comings and goings that night.
The behavior of Antony’s family
Phoebe’s father, a psychiatrist, was deeply troubled when Antony’s father, George Hampel, a retired Supreme Court Judge, asserted just days after Phoebe’s death that she had taken her own life and tried to convince her family of the same. Antony’s reactions to the situation also raised concerns for a uniformed police officer, Justin O’Brien, who was tasked with staying with Antony throughout the night. While a senior constable prepared to take Antony’s statement, he continued to cry, but Officer O’Brien noticed that there were no tears running down his face, and it seemed like he hadn’t shed any tears at all. Although Antony was sniffling, there were no signs of mucus or snot, and his eyes appeared normal without any redness or bloodshot appearance.
When the time came for the police to take his statement, Antony offered to type it himself, claiming to be a fast typist. Strangely, he laughed nervously and suggested he might be quicker, but as soon as he started typing, he immediately stopped crying, became calm, and appeared entirely composed.
Antony’s behavior was not only peculiar to the officer; a friend also testified during the inquest, noting that something seemed off. She observed Antony accessing his Facebook and acting normally, but when visitors arrived, he would suddenly become very upset, crying and curling up on the couch. It felt like he could switch his emotions on and off at will.
Phoebe’s grandmother, Jeanette Campbell, also found the whole situation strange when she visited Antony’s apartment. It almost felt like being on a staged movie set, and the overall situation struck her as bizarre.
She noted that upon entering the apartment, she couldn’t help but notice the absence of her granddaughter’s personal belongings. Phoebe was known for her passion for painting, yet, apart from a few carefully arranged photographs of Antony and Phoebe displayed on a table, there was nothing else that would have reminded her of her beloved granddaughter.
Antony’s lack of emotions
Antony refused to officially identify Phoebe, leaving the task to her grieving parents, who had to visit the morgue to identify their own daughter. Despite this, he proceeded to apply to be recognized as her next of kin. Surprisingly, Antony’s stepmother, Judge Felicity Hampel, contacted Phoebe’s mother and asserted that Antony, not her parents, was deemed Phoebe’s next of kin. This revelation came four days after Phoebe’s passing, as Antony made the application to the coroner. Unaware of this development, Phoebe’s parents sought to collect her body from the court but were denied permission. This situation led to mounting tension and prolonged back-and-forth discussions between the two families, until eventually, Antony relented, allowing Phoebe’s parents to finally claim her body.
Merely five days after Phoebe’s passing, the homicide squad closed the case, firmly believing it to be a suicide. Unfortunately, this initial determination had unintended consequences. When the local detective, Brendan Payne, attempted to seek assistance from the U.S. government to obtain Phoebe’s Gmail records from Google, he faced rejection.
The U.S. authorities would only get involved in cases suspected to be homicides, and since Phoebe’s death was ruled as a suicide, they declined to assist. It wasn’t until over two years later that Phoebe’s family managed to gain access to her Gmail account, only to discover that all of Phoebe’s sent emails had been wiped out by someone. The Coroner had also made the decision to restrict search terms on the computer to “depression” and “suicide”.
Phoebe’s iPhone SIM card was also missing after detectives told Antony to keep it.
The power of influence
Batul Azulup, the concierge who discovered Phoebe’s body, was deeply traumatized by the scene in the refuse room, leading her to take a few weeks off from work. During the inquest, a work colleague of Antony Hampel’s, named Christo, stated that their relationship was purely professional. However, pictures found on Facebook painted a different picture, indicating a more personal connection between them. The photos showed them together on a yacht in Europe and engaging in friendly banter in the comments.
Upon the concierge’s return to work, Christo visited the concierge office with a bottle of wine and chocolates. He proceeded to discuss Phoebe’s depression and Anthony’s efforts to help her, sharing his perspective that Phoebe didn’t want to be saved. Christo continued to visit the concierge every second or third day for about two weeks, repeating these discussions. The concierge eventually became upset and requested him to stop discussing the matter further.
While Antony was in the process of gathering paperwork to establish the authenticity of his de facto relationship with Phoebe, he needed it to manage some of her accounts. He reached out to Phoebe’s friend Alicia to assist him in this matter. However, Alicia received an unexpected email, requesting her to state that Antony and Phoebe were in a loving relationship. Alicia was taken aback and felt outraged by this request because she would never speak on Phoebe’s behalf, and Phoebe had never expressed such words to her.
The inquest
Antony and his family strongly opposed holding an inquest into Phoebe’s death from the beginning. Eventually, Coroner Peter White presided over the inquest. He had several options for his ruling: suicide, accident, homicide, or an open finding, which would allow for reinvestigation if new information emerged.
However, Coroner Peter White’s decision sparked controversy as he ruled that the combination of sleeping pills and alcohol had severely affected Phoebe’s mental state, ultimately leading to her tragic accident of entering the chute and losing her life.
Interestingly, Mr. White’s assisting counsel, Melbourne barrister Ms. Siemensma, had advised that the evidence left the possibility of third-party involvement, possibly including Mr. Hampel, and suggested that only an open finding would be appropriate based on the balance of probabilities. It is uncommon for a coroner to disregard the majority of the submissions made by assisting counsel Deborah Siemensma, even though coroners are not obligated to follow such advice.
Phoebe’s family tried to challenge the coroner's findings multiple times but even struggled to find legal representation.
Phoebe’s parents were told it would be particularly challenging trying to find a lawyer that would stand up against Antony’s parents: his father is a former Supreme Court Judge George Hampel and his stepmother County Court Judge Felicity Hampel
Following Coroner Peter White’s conclusion, Antony swiftly applied for Phoebe’s superannuation fund to receive a death benefit payment. To support his claim, his father, George Hampel, signed a statutory declaration.
However, in his declaration, George Hampel inaccurately exaggerated the length of Antony and Phoebe’s living together by approximately six months. One would expect such precision from a former Supreme Court Judge, irrespective of the merits of the claim. This discrepancy further intensified the tensions between the families.
Antony received a payment of $113,000. Only after several months of disputes, he gave the money to Phoebe’s brothers.
The funeral(s)
Unfortunately, the strained relationship between the two families was beyond repair, leading them to plan separate memorial services for Phoebe.
Antony’s family opted to hold a memorial service at a yacht club, but surprisingly, some of Phoebe’s closest friends were not even invited. One of Phoebe’s karate friends attended Antony’s service, but she deeply regretted it. The ceremony felt peculiar and seemed more like a show for others, failing to capture the true essence of her friend. It lacked the genuine reflection of the person she had known in Phoebe.
In contrast, Phoebe’s family organized a much more modest affair at an old Convent situated by a river. The gathering consisted of many long-time friends of the family. However, Antony did not attend Phoebe’s cremation, nor did he join the family to lay her ashes to rest. The divide between the families remained evident during this somber occasion.
Krissy Hampel, Antony’s sister, shared a close bond with Phoebe. Phoebe was aware of Krissy’s involvement in selling drugs to Antony’s friends, including Australia’s high society. Following Phoebe’s untimely demise, Krissy Hampel faced drug trafficking charges. However, her family’s influence and connections managed to evade a conviction, with the court citing the potential “embarrassment to her family” as a reason.
In 2016, Krissy posted something intriguing on Facebook concerning Phoebe’s death:
“I only hope one day that the truth will come out”
2018 another girlfriend, another suspicious death
Baillee Schneider, a lively and beautiful 25-year-old woman from Melbourne, led an active social life and was known for her outgoing nature. On a seemingly ordinary morning on June 24, 2018, Baillee was at home with her phone, feeling upset about a recent fight with her boyfriend at a barbeque. She had even informed her parents that she had broken up with him. While her parents briefly went out to the shops to get groceries, tragedy struck.
Upon their return, they found Baillee lifeless, slumped against the skirting boards near a cupboard in the kitchen, with a gold cord tied around her neck. Her untimely death raised perplexing questions, as there was no apparent location in the kitchen where the 178-centimeter-tall woman could have hanged herself. Despite these uncertainties, the police swiftly concluded that her death was a suicide, a decision her parents strongly disagreed with.
The investigation process took over a year before an inquest into the model’s death was finally opened. During this time, the police obtained possession of two mobile phones belonging to Baillee Schneider, but it remains unclear why her phones were not seized on the day of her death.
The inquest, once again, reached the conclusion that Bailee’s death was self-inflicted. However, her parents were left with lingering questions and no clear answers. Interestingly, both Bailee and Phoebe had a romantic relationship with the same man, Antony. Both of them wanted to leave him before their deaths. Prior to their relationships with him, both women enjoyed active social lives and had many friends. Strikingly, similar to Phoebe, Bailee also underwent a transformation, becoming increasingly secretive and socially withdrawn during her relationship with Antony.
With two seemingly suspicious deaths ruled as suicides, the question of whether this is a mere coincidence or something more sinister remains unresolved.
