Infamous outback killer dies without leading police to burial site of murdered British backpacker
Bradley James Murdoch died in palliative care on Tuesday night while serving a life sentence for the roadside murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001.
Back in 2001, Falconio, 28, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were driving about 300km from Alice Springs, when they were flagged down by Murdoch, who claimed the car the couple was driving had mechanical issues
Falconio and Murdoch went to the back of the car, when Lees heard a gun shot.
Murdoch has protested that he was innocent in the shooting murder of Falconio, however was found guilty in 2005 and sentenced to 28 years or life without parole.
Murdoch was also found guilty of attempted kidnapping of Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, whose head was covered, and her hands tied, shortly after she heard the gunshot, but managed to escape into the bush and hours later flag down a passing truck.
Falconio was never seen again, and his body has never been found.
Last month Northern Territory police doubled their reward to $500,000 for information that would help locate Falconio's remains.
True crime author Robin Bowles revealed a conversation she had with the convicted killer a few years ago, where she claims Murdoch has something 'explosive' to tell on his deathbed.
'It's a shame they weren't able to be released earlier,' she told 7NEWS.
'You can't sue a dead man, so if he's making the claims, and he's died — the proverbial might hit the fan.'
Police have not yet confirmed if Murdoch made any confessions before his death.
Colleen Gwynne — known for her work in the arrest and conviction of Murdoch — said she wanted to see a resolution for the Falconio family 'who really have been through years of distress'.
Gwynne said authorities had made many attempts to secure key information from Murdoch, and even 'enticed him' with the opportunity to move to his native Western Australia to serve out his sentence.
'That's still didn't change his willingness to assist us,' Gwynne told 7NEWS.
The former chief investigator said it would not be in Murdoch's character to suddenly have a change of heart.
'I think for Bradley Murdoch, he's maintained his innocence. He's never said to anyone that he's guilty of this,' Gwynne said.
'I think for him, it's a part of his control that he will never disclose — he will take it with him. It's unfortunate for the family that's what he's chosen to do.'
Despite various police searches in the last 20 years, Falconio's body has never been found.
The NT introduced a 'no body no parole' law in 2016, preventing people convicted of murder from being able to qualify for parole unless they give up the location of the victim's body.
Murdoch would have been eligible for parole in 2032.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Killer's death robs Falconio family of hopes for peace
Notorious killer Bradley Murdoch lived like he died - selfish, self-absorbed and indifferent - meaning the chance of recovering his victim's body is considered remote at best. Murdoch, 67, died from throat cancer on Tuesday under the watch of correctional officers, a month after being moved from jail to the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory. He was given a life sentence for the murder of 28-year-old British backpacker Peter Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his then-girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the lonely Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Mr Falconio's parents on Wednesday expressed relief that Murdoch had died, but had held out hope, however slim, that he would reveal where he left their son's remains. "Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted," Luciano and Joan Falconio said in a statement to media outlets. "We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has." "We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died. "But even now, we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." John Elferink, who was NT attorney-general when the government passed the "no body, no parole" law, said Murdoch "has left the Falconios with no comfort whatsoever". The killer had always denied his crimes and refused to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio's body. Murdoch had "lived as he died - selfish, self absorbed and indifferent", Mr Elferink said. He still holds hope Mr Falconio's final resting place will be found, but the discovery "is remote at best, impossible at worst". "I'll never say never, because you can't, but at the end of the day I think that the last practical resolution to this matter has passed with the death of Murdoch," he said. NT Police said it was "deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains". Colleen Gwynne, the lead investigator into Mr Falconio's murder, said it was a sad day for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro urged anyone with information about the case to contact CrimeStoppers. "It is disappointing for the Falconio family that this case remains unresolved and they are still without the closure they deserve," Mrs Finocchiaro said. A reward of up to $500,000 is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains. Notorious killer Bradley Murdoch lived like he died - selfish, self-absorbed and indifferent - meaning the chance of recovering his victim's body is considered remote at best. Murdoch, 67, died from throat cancer on Tuesday under the watch of correctional officers, a month after being moved from jail to the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory. He was given a life sentence for the murder of 28-year-old British backpacker Peter Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his then-girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the lonely Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Mr Falconio's parents on Wednesday expressed relief that Murdoch had died, but had held out hope, however slim, that he would reveal where he left their son's remains. "Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted," Luciano and Joan Falconio said in a statement to media outlets. "We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has." "We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died. "But even now, we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." John Elferink, who was NT attorney-general when the government passed the "no body, no parole" law, said Murdoch "has left the Falconios with no comfort whatsoever". The killer had always denied his crimes and refused to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio's body. Murdoch had "lived as he died - selfish, self absorbed and indifferent", Mr Elferink said. He still holds hope Mr Falconio's final resting place will be found, but the discovery "is remote at best, impossible at worst". "I'll never say never, because you can't, but at the end of the day I think that the last practical resolution to this matter has passed with the death of Murdoch," he said. NT Police said it was "deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains". Colleen Gwynne, the lead investigator into Mr Falconio's murder, said it was a sad day for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro urged anyone with information about the case to contact CrimeStoppers. "It is disappointing for the Falconio family that this case remains unresolved and they are still without the closure they deserve," Mrs Finocchiaro said. A reward of up to $500,000 is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains. Notorious killer Bradley Murdoch lived like he died - selfish, self-absorbed and indifferent - meaning the chance of recovering his victim's body is considered remote at best. Murdoch, 67, died from throat cancer on Tuesday under the watch of correctional officers, a month after being moved from jail to the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory. He was given a life sentence for the murder of 28-year-old British backpacker Peter Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his then-girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the lonely Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Mr Falconio's parents on Wednesday expressed relief that Murdoch had died, but had held out hope, however slim, that he would reveal where he left their son's remains. "Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted," Luciano and Joan Falconio said in a statement to media outlets. "We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has." "We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died. "But even now, we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." John Elferink, who was NT attorney-general when the government passed the "no body, no parole" law, said Murdoch "has left the Falconios with no comfort whatsoever". The killer had always denied his crimes and refused to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio's body. Murdoch had "lived as he died - selfish, self absorbed and indifferent", Mr Elferink said. He still holds hope Mr Falconio's final resting place will be found, but the discovery "is remote at best, impossible at worst". "I'll never say never, because you can't, but at the end of the day I think that the last practical resolution to this matter has passed with the death of Murdoch," he said. NT Police said it was "deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains". Colleen Gwynne, the lead investigator into Mr Falconio's murder, said it was a sad day for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro urged anyone with information about the case to contact CrimeStoppers. "It is disappointing for the Falconio family that this case remains unresolved and they are still without the closure they deserve," Mrs Finocchiaro said. A reward of up to $500,000 is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains. Notorious killer Bradley Murdoch lived like he died - selfish, self-absorbed and indifferent - meaning the chance of recovering his victim's body is considered remote at best. Murdoch, 67, died from throat cancer on Tuesday under the watch of correctional officers, a month after being moved from jail to the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory. He was given a life sentence for the murder of 28-year-old British backpacker Peter Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his then-girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the lonely Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Mr Falconio's parents on Wednesday expressed relief that Murdoch had died, but had held out hope, however slim, that he would reveal where he left their son's remains. "Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted," Luciano and Joan Falconio said in a statement to media outlets. "We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has." "We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died. "But even now, we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." John Elferink, who was NT attorney-general when the government passed the "no body, no parole" law, said Murdoch "has left the Falconios with no comfort whatsoever". The killer had always denied his crimes and refused to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio's body. Murdoch had "lived as he died - selfish, self absorbed and indifferent", Mr Elferink said. He still holds hope Mr Falconio's final resting place will be found, but the discovery "is remote at best, impossible at worst". "I'll never say never, because you can't, but at the end of the day I think that the last practical resolution to this matter has passed with the death of Murdoch," he said. NT Police said it was "deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains". Colleen Gwynne, the lead investigator into Mr Falconio's murder, said it was a sad day for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro urged anyone with information about the case to contact CrimeStoppers. "It is disappointing for the Falconio family that this case remains unresolved and they are still without the closure they deserve," Mrs Finocchiaro said. A reward of up to $500,000 is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Buried in killer's dark heart: agony goes on for Falconio family
The convicted murderer Bradley John Murdoch has died in custody in the Northern Territory without revealing where he hid the body of his victim, British backpacker Peter Falconio, ensuring Australia's dead heart keeps another secret and exacerbating the pain of loss for his family and friends. Murdoch, 67, was serving a life sentence for killing Falconio, then 28, who disappeared in a remote part of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek while travelling with his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, in July 2001. She survived the attack. After a year-long nation-wide search, Murdoch was captured in August 2002 and extradited to the territory. His trial started in 2005, and Murdoch's decision to keep an elastic hair tie that belonged to Lees as a trophy was his undoing despite him maintaining his innocence. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life for also assaulting and attempting to kidnap Lees. His crime took on a life of its own. The long history of discomfort with the outback among Australian city dwellers sparked a national and continuing frenzy of true crime coverage. Internationally, Murdoch's crime belonged to the same school of thought as the 1980 disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain, the 1989-92 Ivan Milat hitchhiker murders and the 2000 Childers hostel fire. Falconio's disappearance gave many international tourists pause for thought, partly thanks to the media circus that followed the case over the years. A 2005 film originally based on the Milat murders but adapted to the Murdoch persona, Wolf Creek, was so successful it not only blazed a trail for Australian horror movies but sparked sequels, television series and documentaries. At least six books were written. British author Keith Allan Noble controversially offered a reward of $40,000 for information proving Falconio was alive. Other media outlets paid for interviews. As the only survivor, Lees lived a life of intense public scrutiny – for a while she was cast as an evil suspect in the murder of her boyfriend – even though she sought neither the crime nor the public interest. While Falconio is missing still, there are cases that offer comfort to people when someone close disappears without trace.
Sydney Morning Herald
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