Keith Lees, 72, has been arrested over the death of his former partner, 25-year-old Meaghan Louise Rose, who was discovered at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in 1997.
A warrant was issued in July 2023 in relation to the suspected murder and Lees is due to face court in Sydney on Friday.
Meaghan Louise Rose's body was found at the base of Point Cartwright Cliffs on the Sunshine Coast. (HANDOUT/QUEENSLAND POLICE)
Ms Rose's death was initially ruled a suicide but the investigation was reopened in 2009 and a $500,000 reward for information was announced in June 2023.
Queensland detectives travelled to Victoria and spoke to her former partner that month, before his car was found abandoned the next day at Portland in the state's southwest.
He allegedly gave a false name to other officers at Port Fairy, but was spotted again on CCTV at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre in Geelong, where he purchased new clothes, before the last sighting of him at Shepparton train station.
Months after he disappeared, his adult child urged Lees to surrender and bring closure for Ms Rose's family.
"My heart breaks for them daily, justice needs to be done," they said.
Ms Rose's older sister Christine Richards urged anyone helping Lees avoid the warrant to "think about who you are dealing with".
"Help us to bring justice for Meaghan after all this time, please help us let her rest in peace," she said.
Lees' evasion ended with his arrest at Dural in Sydney's northwest on Thursday morning.
In addition to the warrant, he has also been charged with assaulting police, dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence, and possessing identity information to commit an indictable offence.
He allegedly tried to bite an officer while he was in custody, NSW Police said.
Queensland Police are expected to apply for Lees' extradition.
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