Model, 25, found dead on her kitchen floor is ruled to have killed herself hours after she split with her boyfriend, 51, - whose ex-lover's body was discovered at the bottom of a garbage chute

  • Melbourne model Baillee Schneider, 25, was found dead at her home in July 2018
  • Death ruled a suicide but referred to homicide squad for review in December 
  • Coroner's report on Tuesday found she had died from self-afflicted asphyxiation
  • She had been dating events promoter Anthony Hampel, 51, before her death 
  • His former partner was found dead at bottom of apartment block garbage chute 
  • Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting he was involved in either woman's death 

The mysterious death of a young model who was found slumped against a kitchen cupboard just hours after she broke up with her boyfriend has been ruled a suicide.

Baillee Schneider, 25, was found unconscious by her parents with a gold cord tied around her neck at their home in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne's inner-north on June 24, 2018.

In the hours leading up to her death she had been in close communication with well-known Melbourne 51-year-old events promoter Antony Hampel and had a row with him the night before at a barbecue.

The dental assistant had told her mother that morning she had broken up with her older socialite boyfriend.

One of Mr Hampel's previous partners Pheobe Handsjuk died in 2010 at the age of 24 when she fell feet first down the garbage chute of her high-rise apartment building in what was deemed by a coroner to be an accident.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Hampel was involved in either of the women's deaths. 

Baillee Schneider, 25, was found unconscious in the kitchen of her parents' Moonee Ponds, Melbourne home on June 24 last year

The model was found slumped against a cupboard with a gold cord tied around her neck leading investigators to initially believe she had taken her own life

The model was found slumped against a cupboard with a gold cord tied around her neck leading investigators to initially believe she had taken her own life 

Ms Schneider's death was initially ruled a suicide but referred to a homicide squad for further review in December.

Deputy Coroner Caitlin English on Tuesday though said the review had established her cause of death in her family home was self-inflicted asphyxiation.

Ms English accepted investigators had 'not identified any suspicious circumstances' relating to the death. 

'I am satisfied that Ms Schneider while affected by drugs, alcohol, prescription medication and cocaine, upset by relationship difficulties, made an impulsive decision to end her own life,' Ms English found.  

Ms Schneider had split-up with the 51-year-old because 'their worlds were just too different', the coroner was told. 

Ms Schneider's parents Cameron and Sabine had pushed for a deeper investigation into their daughter's death, with Mr Schneider saying last year 'it was hard to see how' the 25-year-old could have killed herself.  

He said there was no suicide note, no obvious place to hang a rope and they are still baffled by her decision to take out a life insurance policy three weeks beforehand.

Ms Schneider had been dating 51-year-old events promoter Anthony Hampel (right) - who previously was in a relationship with Pheobe Handsjuk (left) - who fell to her death down an apartment block garbage chute in 2010

Ms Schneider had been dating 51-year-old events promoter Anthony Hampel (right) - who previously was in a relationship with Pheobe Handsjuk (left) - who fell to her death down an apartment block garbage chute in 2010

'None of us can understand how she could have done this to herself,' Mr Schneider told The Age at the time. 

'It's not impossible but it is hard to see how.

'Yes we want resolution but not at the expense of the truth. So it is encouraging police and the Coroner are being thorough.'  

At the time of her death Ms Schneider had been dating Mr Hampel for about nine months. 

He is believed to have been one of the final people Ms Schneider spoke to before her death.

Their row at the barbecue was still weighing on Ms Schneider's mind the morning after, and while her parents were out she had poured herself a glass of wine and smoked a cigarette.

A review has established Ms Schneider's (pictured) cause of death in her family home was self-inflicted asphyxiation

A review has established Ms Schneider's (pictured) cause of death in her family home was self-inflicted asphyxiation 

In the months leading up to her death, Ms Schneider began working at strip clubs in Melbourne and increasingly hid more of her life from her parents

A toxicology report also revealed traces of cocaine in her blood.

In the months leading up to her death, Ms Schneider began working at strip clubs in Melbourne and increasingly hid more of her life from her parents.

Included in this was her relationship with Mr Hampel, who she rarely mentioned or posted about on social media.

At the time of her death Ms Schneider had been dating Mr Hampel (right), 51, for about nine months.

At the time of her death Ms Schneider had been dating Mr Hampel (right), 51, for about nine months.

Following the death of her daughter, Mrs Schneider rang Mr Hampel to inform him of the tragic news.

In response he expressed his condolences and said he had been trying desperately to help get her daughter's life back on track. 

Meanwhile, Ms Handsjuk's death was found to be an accident by Coroner Peter White.

He found that affected by a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills, Ms Handsjuk entered the small chute feet first and fell down 12 storeys.

One of Mr Hampel's former partners Phoebe Handsjuk (pictured) fell down 12 storeys of her high-rise Melbourne apartment building

One of Mr Hampel's former partners Phoebe Handsjuk (pictured) fell down 12 storeys of her high-rise Melbourne apartment building

Upon entering the compactor room her leg was hit by the blade of the machine, the impact of which almost severed her limb at the ankle.

She bled to death on the floor of the compactor room - a tragic accident.

At the time of her death Ms Handsjuk had been living with Mr Hampel for close to 12 months.

Mr Hampel's lawyers opposed an inquest, but he gave evidence during it and denied his involvement in her death. 

Advertisement

Melbourne model who died just hours after breaking up with boyfriend ruled to have killed herself

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

What's This?

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.