The body of the 52-year-old was found in a junk-strewn suburban backyard eight days after he was reported missing.

While a missing persons investigation into his business activities across Australia and New Zealand turned up nothing unusual, it's believed detectives uncovered details of the Harvard graduate's secret double life.

Police discovered Mr Rockefeller had been using erotic websites to find partners within Melbourne's swingers network, sources close to the family have said. A family friend described Mr Rockefeller as competitive and living on adrenaline, which included multimillion-dollar deals and a strict fitness regime.

''He got bored easily. He needed excitement in his life,'' the friend said.

''He lived on the edge.'' It is understood that family members held a quiet service yesterday at their East Malvern church.

Police are examining five pre-paid mobile phones Mr Rockefeller is said to have used to organise his clandestine activities.

A Sydney man told Fairfax that his mobile number was previously owned by Mr Rockefeller.

''Over the past 12 months, I've had some calls and they've asked for Herman,'' he said.

''They say they are responding to some ad that's been in a sex paper, sexy swinger kind of stuff.'' Police were aware of the conversations and sex messages, the man said.

The development allegedly led police to a Hadfield home near Melbourne Airport where Mr Rockefeller had met two residents who are now charged with his murder.

Mario Schembri, 57, of Wallan, and Bernadette Denny, 41, of Hadfield, will appear in court today. An out-of-sessions court hearing has been told Mr Rockefeller was killed at their home within hours of his return from an interstate business trip.

The property investor was last seen on CCTV footage at Melbourne Airport after 9pm on January 21.