Huge update on murdered backpacker
Northern Territory Police have announced a fresh appeal to find the remains of British backpacker Peter Falconio, who disappeared in a remote part of the NT nearly 24 years ago.
Mr Falconio, 28 at the time, had been travelling on the NT's Stuart Hwy in a van with his girlfriend when a car driven by Bradley John Murdoch, 67, signalled for them to pull over.
Mr Falconio was shot in the head, while Murdoch also attempted to abduct his girlfriend, Joanne Lee, binding her wrists with cable ties.
Killed in 2001, Mr Falconio's body was never found.
Murdoch was convicted of Mr Falconio's murder in 2005, and sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 28 years.
During his trial it was revealed Murdoch had dumped Mr Falconio's body somewhere along the 2000km stretch between Alice Springs and Broome.
His remains have never been found.
Acting Commander Mark Grieve said it would be offering $500,000 as a reward for anyone who can provide information to the backpacker's whereabouts.
'In what will be the 24th anniversary of his death this July being next month, we're asking for anyone that may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police,' he told reporters.
'It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be.'
The renewed search comes after revelations on Tuesday that Murdoch had been taken into palliative care at the Alice Springs Hospital.
Murdoch had been held at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre since 2022, before which he was held in Holtze prison in Darwin.
He was described as 'just about dead' by a source speaking to the NT News, who said that Murdoch – who was convicted of the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio – was wheelchair bound.
Murdoch was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019, and has always maintained his innocence.
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