Suspicion lingers in death of ex-bikie
BAFFLED police are pleading for fresh information about the “suspicious” drugrelated death of an ex-bikie as his Gold Coast wife prepares to have their son.
Five months after the body of former high-ranking Rebels bikie Ricky Ciano was found in the back seat of his BMW, police yesterday revealed he died of a drug overdose.
But police have on “open mind” how it occurred and are not ruling out someone killing him with a “hot shot”.
Detective Acting Superintendent Jason Dickinson, who released footage of his last sightings and pleaded for
anyone with information to come forward, said: “The manner he was found, movements of his vehicle, forensic information we have all cause us concern and give rise to a level of suspicion.”
The new footage included dash cam video of Sydney traffic cops pulling him over days before he was found dead on February 14 on a country NSW backroad.
Acquaintances believe it highly unlikely he overdosed himself, saying he lived for family and a six-year-old Sydney-based daughter he was scheduled to visit.
Family raised the alarm about his disappearance when he didn’t turn up, considered very out of character.
His pregnant Coast-based wife Rachel is understood to be due to give birth within days to the couple’s son, according to sources.
“I can’t see him going out and overdosing,” one friend said. “Why would he if he was going to see his daughter and he’s got a son on the way?”
Acquaintances are furious police have just released video of him looking relaxed in a singlet, sunglasses and cap as he talks to a traffic cop on the side of the road.
“It’s too late now – people aren’t going to remember seeing him six months ago. It’s pretty poor,” a friend said.
“They should have put that out and asked if anyone had seen him within days.”
Mr Ciano, 35, relocated to the Gold Coast from Sydney after cutting ties with the Rebels and surviving an attempt on his life in 2015. Police previously alleged he had a $500,000 contract on his head.
He was found dead on Duckmaloi Road, 15km from Oberon in the rural Central Tablelands.
Detective Dickinson said his BMW may have been there as early as Sunday afternoon, two days before he was discovered.
Police were keen to hear from occupants of a white Toyota Hiace van travelling in the same area near Oberon on the Saturday.
Police said the clothes he was wearing when pulled over by traffic police have never been found.
His death brought to five the number of Rebels to turn up dead after quitting or trying to quit the gang in the past two years.