Keli Lane, born on March 21, 1975, is a former Australian water polo player who became the center of a high-profile criminal case. In 2010, she was convicted of murdering her newborn daughter, Tegan Lane, in 1996—a crime that went unsolved for over a decade.
The case captivated the nation, not only due to its shocking nature but also because Tegan’s body was never recovered, making it one of Australia’s most baffling criminal mysteries.
Prosecutors built their case on circumstantial evidence, alleging that Lane, who had a history of concealed pregnancies and private adoptions, killed Tegan to protect her reputation and lifestyle. Her conviction remains contentious, with supporters arguing the evidence pointed to guilt, while critics maintain that the absence of definitive proof raises doubts about her culpability.
NAME: Keli Lane
DOB: March 21, 1975
COUNTRY: Fairlight, New South Wales, Australia
VICTIMS: 1 – Tegan Lee Lane (daughter)
ARREST: 2009
SENTENCE: Maximum 18 years in prison with a minimum of 13 years and 5 months (2010)
PRISON: Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre in New South Wales
Where is Keli Lane now?
SENTENCE: Maximum 18 years in prison with a minimum of 13 years and 5 months
Keli Lane is currently imprisoned at the Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre in New South Wales.
She is serving an 18-year sentence for the murder of her infant daughter, Tegan. She became eligible for parole on May 12, 2024. Her full sentence will end December 12, 2028.
Despite her conviction, Lane has steadfastly maintained her innocence, claiming she handed Tegan over to the child’s alleged biological father—a man she identified as “Andrew Morris” or “Andrew Norris.” Yet investigations uncovered no proof of this individual’s existence, casting further doubt on her account.
Public intrigue in the case was reignited in 2018 with the ABC documentary ”Exposed: The Case of Keli Lane”, which raised questions about the fairness of her trial. Some legal experts featured in the film suggested potential flaws in the proceedings, prompting calls from supporters for a retrial. To date, however, no new legal action has been taken.
Despite multiple appeals—including a 2011 challenge to the conviction—higher courts have consistently upheld the verdict.
- Aug 31, 2023 Moved to a transitional correctional centre in Sydney
- Feb 24, 2024 Sent back to Silverwater maximum-security prison for breach.
- May 12, 2024 Eligible for parole for first time.
- Mar 22, 2024 Denied parole.
- Mar 19, 2025 Keli Lane was identified as victim of former prison officer.
Aug 31 2023 Moved to a transitional correctional centre in Sydney
Keli Lane was transferred to a transitional correctional facility in Sydney’s north west. As part of her reintegration program she works at a processing plant producing dairy products for the state’s prison population.[1]
Feb 24, 2024 Sent back to Silverwater maximum-security prison for breach
After recently being granted day release to work in the community, Lane was reportedly found in possession of a mobile phone—a violation of her parole conditions. This breach resulted in her return to Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre, a maximum-security facility for women in New South Wales.
A spokeswomen for Corrective Services NSW said: “Living in a transitional centre is a privilege, underpinned by the good behaviour of the inmate, and their adherence to strict conditions. If an inmate is suspected of behaviour which contravenes these conditions, an investigation is launched and the offender can be returned to prison.” [2]
May 12, 2024 Eligible for parole
Keli Lane became eligible for parole for the first time on May 12, 2024.
Mar 22, 2024 Denied parole
#Keli Lane was denied parole after refusing to assist authorities in locating the infant’s remains, under the “no body, no parole” laws introduced in 2022. [3]
Mar 19, 2025 Keli Lane was identified as victim of former prison officer
Keli Lane has been named in New South Wales Parliament as a victim of Wayne Gregory Astill—a convicted sex offender and former prison officer. During a parliamentary address, Greens MP Sue Higginson revealed Lane’s connection to Astill while advocating for a reconsideration of her parole eligibility. [4]
Wayne Gregory Astill was sentenced to 23 years in prison in March 2023, after he was convicted of 34 charges, including counts of aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault. Keli Lane’s testimony reportedly helped to secure his conviction.
CRIMES COMMITTED
At the heart of this case lies the mysterious disappearance and presumed murder of Tegan Lane, born September 12, 1996, at Auburn Hospital in Sydney. Just hours after giving birth, then-21-year-old Keli Lane discharged herself and attended a wedding that evening, later denying to friends and family that she had ever been pregnant.
Prosecutors allege Lane killed her newborn shortly after leaving the hospital. Yet without Tegan’s remains—never recovered despite extensive searches—the case lacks crucial forensic evidence to determine precisely how or where the crime occurred.
The investigation revealed a troubling pattern: Between 1992 and 1999, Lane experienced five pregnancies. While two ended in abortions and two resulted in adoptions, Tegan’s case stood apart as the only pregnancy with no verifiable outcome. This discrepancy, coupled with Lane’s history of concealing pregnancies, fueled suspicions that she had taken deliberate steps to erase all traces of Tegan’s existence.
CAPTURE & INVESTIGATION
The truth about Tegan Lane might have remained hidden indefinitely had a 2001 adoption review by the Department of Community Services (DOCS) not exposed irregularities in Lane’s records. When confronted, Lane first asserted that Tegan was living with her biological father – yet failed to produce any credible information about the man’s identity or location.
The subsequent police investigation, initiated in 2003, uncovered a disturbing void: no school enrollment, no Medicare records, no official documentation of Tegan’s existence beyond her birth. This complete absence from all government systems led investigators to conclude the infant likely never left Auburn Hospital alive.
Lane’s shifting narratives further deepened suspicions. Her account evolved from handing Tegan to a man named “Andrew Morris/Norris” at the hospital, to later claiming she’d given the baby to unknown individuals. These persistent contradictions, coupled with the total lack of evidence that Tegan was ever placed in anyone’s care, pointed investigators toward a tragic conclusion.
The case officially became a homicide investigation in 2006, culminating in Lane’s arrest and murder charges in 2009 – nearly thirteen years after Tegan’s birth and disappearance.
TRIAL & CONVICTIONS
Keli Lane’s high-profile murder trial commenced in 2010 at the New South Wales Supreme Court, where prosecutors painted a damning portrait of motive and deception. They asserted that Lane, determined to preserve her reputation as a rising water polo star, viewed newborn Tegan as a threat to her athletic career and social standing—allegedly choosing murder over motherhood to avoid scandal.
The state built its argument on several compelling factors:
A Pattern of Secrecy: Lane’s history of five concealed pregnancies between 1992-1999, including secret adoptions
Systematic Deception: Her ability to hide pregnancies from partners, family, and teammates
The Missing Child: The complete absence of any official records documenting Tegan’s life after birth
Lane’s legal team maintained she had relinquished Tegan to the alleged father, arguing the prosecution failed to present forensic evidence linking Lane to a crime, any witness accounts of harm coming to the infant, the baby’s remains.
After weighing six weeks of testimony, the jury delivered a guilty verdict on December 13, 2010. Justice Anthony Whealy sentenced Lane to 18 years imprisonment, mandating she serve at least 13 years and 5 months before parole eligibility.
Despite multiple appeals—including a 2011 challenge to the conviction—higher courts have consistently upheld the verdict. Yet the case remains hotly debated in legal circles, with prominent scholars criticizing the reliance on circumstantial evidence.
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REFERENCES / CITATIONS:
- The Sydney Morning Herald: Baby killer Keli Lane seen for first time in years as end of sentence nears – August 31, 2023
- The Sydney Morning Herald: Keli Lane back in maximum security after alleged phone breach – February 27, 2024
- The Guardian: Baby killer Keli Lane refused release from NSW jail in ‘no body, no parole’ law test – March 22, 2024
- ABC News AU: Keli Lane named in NSW parliament as victim of former prison officer Wayne Astill – March 19, 2025
- ABC News AU: Keli Lane: Investigation’s lead detective reveals there was internal pressure on case – October 8, 2018
Books ABOUT Keli Lane
Nice Girl: The Story of Keli Lane and Her Missing Baby, Tegan
The true story of baby Tegan Lane who went missing in 1996 and is now presumed dead.Keli Lane, Australian water polo champion and elite private school..
ON TRIAL: The Case of Keli Lane and the ABC
Davis takes readers on a guided tour through the story of Keli Lane and her conviction for murdering her daughter Tegan….
TV Shows & Documentaries about Keli Lane
Exposed: The Case of Keli Lane
Caro Meldrum-Hanna investigates one of Australia’s most notorious crimes: the disappearance of baby Tegan Lane and the conviction of her mother Keli Lane of her murder.
TV Mini Series / Documentary | 2018 | 3Episodes
MORE ARTICLES ABOUT Keli Lane
A selection of interesting articles about Keli Lane, sourced and curated from around the web:
Baby killer Keli Lane refused release from NSW jail in ‘no body, no parole’ law test
The Guardian | Author: Jordyn Beazley | March 22, 2024
Keli Lane named in NSW parliament as victim of former prison officer Wayne Astill
ABC News AU | Author: Echo Hui | March 19, 2025
Baby killer Keli Lane seen for first time in years as end of sentence nears
The Sydney Morning Herald | Author: Tiffiny Genders | August 31, 2023
Keli Lane: Investigation’s lead detective reveals there was internal pressure on case
ABC News AU | Author: Caro Meldrum-Hanna, Elise Worthington, Jaya Balendra and Julia Pursche | October 8, 2018