Esther McKay
Esther McKay is a former Detective Senior Constable of the NSW Police, retiring Medically Unfit, Hurt on Duty in 2001. She holds a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation.
When Esther McKay, an idealistic young constable with the NSW police, entered the tough, male-dominated world of forensic investigation, she was determined to hold her own. She soon found herself at deeply confronting crime scenes, often working alone and without supervision. Her cases ranged from a beautiful young girl macheted to death by her jealous boyfriend to the electrocution of a small child; from the Newcastle earthquake victims to the suicide whose body had liquefied in his car.
Eventually it became too much to bear. After years of long, lonely, exhausting days and nights, and following a particularly harrowing high-profile case involving the disappearance of two young boys, Esther has a breakdown and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She was discharged from the police force, hurt in the line of duty, and ultimately began a remarkable journey to recovery.