Tonight on 7NEWS Spotlight, a mother’s grief turns into a search for answers, as the program digs into the fallout of the LA fires to find out what really happened to Rory Sykes?
Reporter Sarah Greenhalgh speaks with Shelley and tracks how a tragic loss spiralled into online abuse, following the claims, questions and backlash that emerged in the aftermath.
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When 32-year-old Australian man Rory Sykes died in the LA fires in January 2025, it made headlines across around the globe.
Police labelled his death a tragic accident. His mother Shelley shared her grief publicly on TV, recounting stories of her disabled son, who had overcome extraordinary odds.
But what happened next was unexpected and cruel: an onslaught of abuse and dark conspiracies from online trolls the world over, wannabe cyber-sleuths accusing the innocent mum of the most heinous of crimes.
So, what happened to Rory? This Sunday at 8.00pm on Seven and 7plus, 7NEWS Spotlight reporter Sarah Greenhalgh takes viewers inside a real-time investigation.
Sarah Greenhalgh said:
“Usually when a grieving parent speaks publicly about the loss of their child, they’re showered with love and support from the public. But that wasn’t the case for Shelley and we wanted to find out why.”
“The Palisades fire was one of the most deadly and destructive in LA’s history. There’s still so much finger pointing happening at every level of government about who is to blame.”
“This investigation sheds lights on how outrage can sometimes outpace the truth.”
The episode of 7NEWS Spotlight: What happened to Rory Sykes? airs tonight, Sunday 26 April at 8.00pm on Seven and 7plus
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