7NEWS Spotlight: What happened to Rory Sykes? Grieving mother of Australian LA fires victim targeted

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 ha’d 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 7pPlus, 7NEWS Spotlight reporter Sarah Greenhalgh takes viewers inside a real-time investigation.

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