Grim theory after outback killer's death
Murdoch, who was serving a life sentence for the backpacker's murder in 2001, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019.
He was transferred from the Alice Springs Correctional Centre to palliative care earlier this year.
He died overnight at Alice Springs Hospital, aged 67.
Speaking to ABC Radio on Wednesday morning, former Northern Territory police officer Colleen Gwynne – who led the investigation into the murder – said she was mourning the death of the British backpacker.
'You mourn Peter today,' she told the station.
'Bradley's prolonged refusal to co-operate with police and provide the information that we needed to locate Peter's remains (resulted) in … prolonged family agony by the Falconio family.
'It's a sad day for those reasons.'
Ms Gwynne said she 'pretty much always said' Murdoch wouldn't reveal the whereabouts of Mr Falconio's remains, as it aligned with the killer's 'narcissistic' personality.
'The night that Joanne (Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees) escaped and we lost Peter, he (Murdoch) lost control. And as a result of that, he felt wronged, and he felt angry,' she said.
Ms Gwynne said Murdoch used his silence 'to gain some control' and to 'have that power over the Falconio family by not disclosing any details of what he did with Peter to allow us to narrow that search'.
Murdoch was convicted of murdering Mr Falconio on July 14, 2001.
He was travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees in a Kombi van along the Sturt Highway, north of Barrow Creek between Darwin and Alice Springs, when another car stopped alongside them and motioned to them to pull over.
When the Kombi van pulled over, Murdoch shot Mr Falconio in the head.
Murdoch then tried to kidnap Ms Lees, pulling her out of the van and binding her wrists with cable ties before forcing her in the back of his vehicle.
While Murdoch went back to his vehicle, Ms Lees managed to escape and hid in the bushes for several hours before she flagged down another driver.
Mr Falconio's body has never been found.
Murdoch was found guilty of murder in December 2005 and was sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 28 years.
He maintained his innocence throughout the trial and twice tried to overturn the convictions, but both attempts were unsuccessful.
Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032, but the NT's introduction of 'no body, no parole' laws in 2016 meant he would only have been released if he revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body.
Last month, the NT Police Force (NTPF) announced a renewed appeal and $500,000 reward for anyone who provided information leading to the recovery of Mr Falconio's remains.
Acting Commissioner Mark Grieve said despite the years that passed, it was 'never too late to reach out and at least start that conversation'.
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, NTPF said it remained committed to 'resolving this final piece of the investigation'.
'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains,' the statement read.
'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved.
'Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom whose grief continues.
'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem.'
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