For Gold Coast local Jason Rigby, getting the gig of second-in-charge at a brand-new five-star resort in Fiji was a dream job.

He'd been working in hotels for two decades, and as he packed his bags and moved into his accommodations at the Crowne Plaza resort in Nadi Bay, his family back home got used to seeing videos of him relaxing on the golf course or partying at local bars in his time off.

Talking to Mamamia's True Crime Conversations, his sister-in-law Jess Rigby described him as the "fun uncle."

"He was the kind of guy that lived large and fully and wasn't tied down. He'd been there [in Fiji] for 21 months before the incident, and by all accounts was loving life," she said.

In November 2024, he went home during a visit to Australia. By mid-December, he was dead.

Watch: Jason Rigby's story. Post continues below.

"He passed the morning of the 14th, and we didn't find out he was gone until later that evening through the Surfers Paradise police leaving a note on his mother's door asking for a callback," said Jess.

According to Jess, Jason's father was told during a call with Jason's girlfriend, Shivani Siwan, that he'd died by suicide.

After finding Jason, Shivani called his best-friend, Crowne Plaza executive chef Ian Lovey, who then called another colleague, Arushi Arora.

As Arushi Arora told 60 Minutes, it was she who called the police and paramedics.

"I ran to his apartment and when I reached it, Jason's partner was emotional and crying. There was a blood-soaked large chef's knife on the table," she told Nine.

According to the Rigby family, information contained in an official DFAT report indicates Jason was alive when paramedics arrived but died shortly afterwards.

According to Jess, the DFAT report said the police investigation was over by 4pm that day, and by that evening hotel management, Fijian police and Australian authorities were all treating Jason's death as suicide.

Jason Rigby died at the Crowne Plaza resort in Fiji in December, 2024. Image: supplied.

For the Rigby family, the ruling has never made sense.

"It seems like police took the people that were on the scene at face value and kind of concluded [their investigation] on the spot," Jess said.

According to Jess, the knife authorities believe Jason used to inflict his alleged injuries was found on the kitchen table while he was in the bathroom. She said the family also learned it was not supplied with the apartment.

"Jason is not a cook…he is not very house-trained. He was ordering room service every night, he would not be the kind of guy that would go out and purchase an expensive kitchen knife, and that's what it was," said Jess.

Jess said the family believes, based on inquiries made during the 60 Minutes investigation, the knife had been purchased locally in Nadi. She said they do not know who purchased it or when.

Jason's personal mobile phone has also never been recovered, something his family find odd.

The Rigby family also don't think there was enough investigation to make a ruling.

"I know he was in contact with his stepmother, planning to buy an investment property. There was talk of him going on holidays to Japan with Shivani," she said.

"There was nothing that we could see from any of the behaviour that would indicate anything."

The Crowne Plaza in Nadi Bay. Image: Instagram.

Six months after Jason's death, on the family's third trip to Fiji — this time with a 60 Minutes crew and their private investigator — local authorities announced they would investigate the death as a possible criminal matter.

No person has been charged in connection with Jason's death and the investigation remains ongoing.

"We feel so unsupported," said Jess.

"There is absolutely no guidance from anybody in any agency in either country."

Right now, the ball sits in the Australian Federal Police's hands, because Fijian police say they need access to Jason's phone forensics to continue their investigation.

"The AFP haven't been able to confirm whether they have extracted the information or provide a timeline on when that will happen," said Jess.

For the past 18 months, Jess, her husband Chris, his father, and the rest of the family have been using their spare time to play the role of pseudo-detective.

They know if they stop, Jason would simply be forgotten.

"He was such a huge personality and a huge part of so many people's lives. He impacted so many people in a positive way," Jess said.

"I'm sure everyone's family has a guy like Jason in their life, and this family isn't going anywhere."

Feature image: supplied.

If you or anyone you know needs to speak with an expert, please contact your GP or in Australia, contact Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), all of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7.