At 19, He Was Pulled Into into Serial Killing Ring that Was Dramatized in a Movie — and Now He's Going Free
A serial killer in South Australia was granted parole this week after decades behind bars
James Vlassakis, who was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 26 years, committed four of 11 murders that occurred between 1992 and 1999 in Snowtown
Frances Nelson, the South Australian parole board chief, said Vlassakis "does not represent a risk to the community'James Vlassakis, a serial killer in South Australia, was granted parole this week after spending more than two decades behind bars, according to multiple news reports.
The decision was made by the South Australian Parole Board on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with the board saying that Vlassakis will serve the remainder of his life sentence outside of prison walls under special conditions, according to The Guardian, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Frances Nelson, the parole board chief, said Vlassakis "does not represent a risk to the community' and will be sent to a pre-release facility for up to 12 months before he is officially released, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
PEOPLE reached out to the South Australian Parole Board for comment on Tuesday, Aug. 5 but did not immediately hear back.
Vlassakis has been in prison for the past 26 years after being convicted for his role in the "Snowtown murders" that occurred between 1992 and 1999 in South Australia. Authorities said Vlassakis, who was 19 at the time, committed four of the 11 murders alongside three others, The Guardian reported. He has never been pictured.
The killings came to light in May 1999, when authorities discovered dismembered remains in plastic barrels filled with hydrochloric acid in an old bank vault in Snowtown, per The Guardian.
According to ABC, authorities said the victims were relatives and friends of the killers.
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Vlassakis' stepfather, John Bunting, and Robert Wagner committed the murders along with Vlassakis. They are serving life sentences without parole and Vlassakis testified against the two during their trials, per ABC.
Mark Ray Haydon, 66, who help cover up the killings, was released on parole with special conditions in May 2024, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The murders were depicted in the 2011 film Snowtown, which follows the perspective of Vlassakis' character as the killings take place.
Ronald Lane, the nephew of one of the victims, called the decision to grant Vlassakis parole a "kick in the face for the families that are involved," per ABC.
"What about the victims' lives? They didn't get the chance to even live their lives — they were brutally killed," Lane said, per the outlet.
Speaking further about Vlassakis' release, Nelson said, "Many victims have the view that someone hasn't really got a long enough sentence and they shouldn't be released, but that isn't a matter that should even feature for the parole board — it would usurp the function of the courts," ABC reported.
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