Vicki Arnold's index finger was still resting on the trigger of the shortened .22 semi-automatic rifle when police arrived at a gory crime scene in the north Queensland bush.
She had gunshot wounds underneath her jaw and her body was bloated and decomposed.
Her best friend, Julie-Anne Leahy, was slumped next to her in the driver's seat of the four-wheel-drive. The seat belt was looped around her neck twice and she had been shot twice in the head.
Police quickly concluded that Ms Arnold had killed Ms Leahy, before taking her own life.
But that was just the start of one of Australia's most enduring mysteries - who killed Vicki and Julie?
Best friends Vicki Arnold (right) and Julie-Anne Leahy (left) were found dead in Ms Leahy's four wheel drive in bushland, near Atherton in north Queensland, on August 9 1991
Alan (centre) and Julie-Anne (right) married on September 24, 1998, and Ms Arnold (left) was a bridesmaid
The best friends were found dead in Ms Leahy's four wheel drive in bushland, near Atherton in north Queensland, on August 9 1991.
Alan Leahy, Ms Leahy's husband, reported the two women missing on July 26, about 8am, when they failed to return from an early morning fishing trip.
Investigative journalist and author Robert Reid followed the captivating case in the 28 years following, in a bid to lift the lid on the unsolved mystery.
Mr Reid, who spoke to the Australian True Crime podcast about the homicide, said it was 'lazy' policing to begin with - but there was much more to the multi-layered case.
The two key suspects are both dead and even Mr Reid admitted 'it's over'.
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Many struggled to believe the two best friends were victims of a murder-suicide and a third inquest in 2013 confirmed otherwise.
Queensland coroner Michael Barnes determined Ms Arnold and Ms Leahy were murdered in a double homicide and justified putting Mr Leahy to trial.
But in 2015, the Department of Public Prosecutions dropped the case. Mr Leahy died in July 2018 in Alice Springs.
The trial was abandoned when police identified a new prime suspect in their investigations, notorious standover man Chris Dunlea.
The 34-year-old was killed in an 'execution style shooting' in Bundaberg in 1994, before authorities got wind of his alleged involvement.
The police officers who were called to the horrific crime scene failed to properly investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and quickly concluded Ms Arnold had killed Ms Leahy (pictured), before taking her own life
The car Ms Leahy and Ms Arnold were found in by five youths riding their bikes in the area
Mr Reid described Dunlea as a brutal and violent man who would rip off drug dealers' marijuana crops.
One of the men who was convicted of shooting Dunlea, Gregory William 'Peggo' De Jong, contacted Mr Reid from prison and declared his victim would boast about killing the women, Mr Reid wrote in The Australian.
'They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,' Dunlea told De Jong, adding 'we had to get rid of them so they didn't bring heat to the area, and my mates put it down as a murder and suicide'.
Mr Reid dismissed it at first, until he was approached by Hazel and Jim Skarott who owned a convenience store in Yungaburra, not far from Cairns.
The couple told Mr Reid they opened their shop early one morning and Dunlea entered with two women, who fit the description of Ms Arnold and Ms Leahy.
Many struggled to believe the two best friends were victims of a murder-suicide and a third inquest in 2013 confirmed otherwise. Queensland coroner Michael Barnes determined Ms Arnold and Ms Leahy were murdered in a double homicide and justified putting Mr Leahy to trial. But in 2015, the case against Mr Leahy was dropped. Pictured: Ms Leahy
They knew Dunlea because he was previously employed by them elsewhere for milk runs, but he didn't know they owned that shop.
The couple recalled Dunlea was in a hurry to get out of the store. One of the women said they had just finished fishing and needed to get back home to her children.
Mr Reid was convinced by the Skarott's story and determined Dunlea had killed the two women.
'I was convinced and in my third book I've got Chris Dunlea as the shooter,' he told the podcast.
Mr Reid was even given permission to go through the Leahy house to investigate the case and how Mr Leahy could have orchestrated the killings that night, but it was to no avail.
'I can't get him up there to do the actual murders,' he said while explaining it as implausible Mr Leahy could have moved from location to location in bloodied clothes.
'And everyone I've spoken to then and since said ''yep'' Chris would have done that, he would have been paid.'
'I don't have Alan Leahy off the hook, I know he knew what was going to happen.'
Ms Leahy pictured with her half sisters Margaret and Vanessa. Court documents said Mr and Ms Leahy had a steady relationship until the teenagers arrived, when Ms Leahy began to suspect her husband was paying too much attention to Margaret
Why was Alan Leahy suspected of the homicide?
Alan and Julie-Anne married on September 24, 1998, and Ms Arnold was a bridesmaid.
Ms Leahy's mother was unable to care for her daughter's half sisters Vanessa and Margaret and they had been living with their grandmother until they became too much of a burden.
Vanessa moved into Ms Leahy's home just before her 14th birthday in July 1989 and Margaret moved in about December, aged 16.
Court documents state the couple had a steady relationship until the teenagers arrived, when Ms Leahy began to suspect her husband was paying too much attention to Margaret.
Both sisters later alleged to having a sexual relationship with Mr Leahy.
Both sisters later alleged to having a sexual relationship with Mr Leahy (pictured). He died in July 2018 in Alice Springs.
Mr Reid told the podcast Vanessa still blames herself for the two women's deaths.
But Mr Reid explained Vanessa was a child who had become 'captivated' by a father-like figure, who deliberately groomed her for sex.
At the second inquest in 1999, Vanessa revealed the original statement she gave to police was false.
She said Mr Leahy told her to tell a different story so their sexual relationship did not come to light.
Mr Reid said Mr Leahy had motives for his wife's death, notably access to his wife's insurance and having Vanessa in his house.
The day after the two women disappeared, Mr Leahy told an officer at the Atherton Police Station the couple had been having some financial difficulties.
A shortened .22 semi-automatic rifle was found lying in the passenger seat and Ms Arnold's hand was resting on the firearm, with her index finger on the trigger
The crime scene
The bodies were found about 4pm by five youths riding their bikes in the area, court documents stated.
They promptly notified police and said they did not approach the car closer than about 10 metres.
Sergeant Michael Morrison, Herberton Police, first attended the crime scene and on realising the women suffered violent deaths, he called for backup.
Detective Sergeant Michael Hayes and his assistant, Senior Constable Willem Hendrikse arrived shortly, when it was windy, raining, and becoming dark.
Another officer attended to take photos of the scene and the officers attempted to take fingerprints, but failed.
The car was found with the back glass door open, with the luggage compartment holding two fishing rods and two buckets with fishing tackle and bait in them.
The vehicle's side doors were also open and the window was wound down on the passenger side.
The vehicle's side doors were open and the window was wound down on the passenger side. A rock, the size of a large grapefruit, sat underneath the frame of the passenger seat and it had a number of hairs and dried blood stuck to it
A rock, the size of a large grapefruit, sat underneath the frame of the passenger seat and it had a number of hairs and dried blood stuck to it.
Ms Arnold was sitting in the passenger side of the car and her legs were outside the vehicle. Her body was so severely decomposed the extent of her injuries could only be identified by a post-mortem.
It was found Ms Arnold had gunshot wounds underneath her jaw, behind the tip of the right ear and on her left thigh.
Ms Leahy's body was found in the driver's seat and it was evident she had suffered injuries to her head. The driver's seat belt was looped around her neck twice.
The autopsy found she had been shot twice in the head and suffered three incisions on her neck.
A shortened .22 semi-automatic rifle was found lying in the passenger seat and Ms Arnold's hand was resting on the firearm, with her index finger on the trigger.
The case remains open.
VICKI ARNOLD AND JULIE-ANNE LEAHY COLD CASE TIMELINE
Disappearance - July 26 1991
Alan Leahy reports his Julie-Anne and her friend Vicki Arnold are missing about 8.00am. They had been fishing earlier in the morning but failed to return.
Bodies found - August 9 1991
Their bodies were found in Ms Leahy's four wheel drive in bushland, near Atherton in north Queensland. Five youths riding their bikes in the area made the gruesome discovery.
Police quickly determined it was a murder-suicide.
The first inquest - July 30 and September 3 1992
The first inquest was conducted between July 30 and September 3 1992 by Mr Trevor Spicer.
The inquest found the Corner was satisfied that the injuries to Ms Leahy were inflicted by Ms Arnold.
Chris Dunlea's death - 1994
A notorious standover man, 34, was killed in an 'execution style shooting' in Bundaberg in 1994.
He had boasted about killing the two women.
The second inquest - 1998 - 2000
A second inquest was ordered on June 7 1998, to be conducted by Magistrate Gary Casey in 1999.
The findings were delivered on February 21, 2000 and were broadly in agreement of the original inquest.
The third inquest - 2011 - 2013
The third inquest, conducted by Queensland Coroner Michael Barnes, was handed down in March 2013.
It found the women died from a double homicide and Alan Leahy should be committed to stand trial.
New suspect - 2015
The Department of Public Prosecutions dropped their case against Mr Leahy. Their new suspect was Chris Dunlea.
Alan Leahy dies - 2018
Mr Leahy died in July.
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