NT police offer $500,000 reward to find body of missing backpacker Peter Falconio
Northern Territory police has announced a $500,000 reward in a bid to locate the remains of a British backpacker who was murdered in the Northern Territory in 2001.
Peter Falconio,28, and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, were driving about 300km from Alice Springs, when they were flagged down by Bradley John Murdoch, who said they had mechanical issues.
Falconio went behind the car with Murdoch to investigate the issue, when Lees heard a gunshot. Falconio was never seen again.
Acting Commander Grieve said police want to bring 'resolution' to Falconio's family.
'[Police] recognise that there are certain times when there is the potential for opportunities to be taken advantage of,' he said.
'We believe now is the right time, to come forward with a reward.
'There was a previous reward of up to $250,000, so we've upped that to up $500,000.
'It's like any ongoing police investigation. You want to solve it.'
Murdoch cable-tied Lees and covered her head but she managed to escape and hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch searched for her with his dog before she managed to flag down a truck driver.
He has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty, but was convicted of murder in 2005.
Several extensive police searches have failed to locate his remains.
'You want to try and at least bring some sliver of resolution to Peter's family, by bringing home his remains,' Grieve said.
Murdoch, who has never divulged the whereabouts of Falconio's body, has remained silent.
Currently serving a life sentence, Murdoch was this week transferred from jail into palliative care in Alice Springs Hospital.
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7NEWS
6 hours ago
- 7NEWS
NT police offer $500,000 reward to find body of missing backpacker Peter Falconio
Northern Territory police has announced a $500,000 reward in a bid to locate the remains of a British backpacker who was murdered in the Northern Territory in 2001. Peter Falconio,28, and his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, were driving about 300km from Alice Springs, when they were flagged down by Bradley John Murdoch, who said they had mechanical issues. Falconio went behind the car with Murdoch to investigate the issue, when Lees heard a gunshot. Falconio was never seen again. Acting Commander Grieve said police want to bring 'resolution' to Falconio's family. '[Police] recognise that there are certain times when there is the potential for opportunities to be taken advantage of,' he said. 'We believe now is the right time, to come forward with a reward. 'There was a previous reward of up to $250,000, so we've upped that to up $500,000. 'It's like any ongoing police investigation. You want to solve it.' Murdoch cable-tied Lees and covered her head but she managed to escape and hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch searched for her with his dog before she managed to flag down a truck driver. He has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty, but was convicted of murder in 2005. Several extensive police searches have failed to locate his remains. 'You want to try and at least bring some sliver of resolution to Peter's family, by bringing home his remains,' Grieve said. Murdoch, who has never divulged the whereabouts of Falconio's body, has remained silent. Currently serving a life sentence, Murdoch was this week transferred from jail into palliative care in Alice Springs Hospital. Stream free on
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Surprise move in backpacker body search as killer lies dying
In a desperate bid to flush out fresh information in the search for missing backpacker Peter Falconio's body, Northern Territory police have announced a new reward as his convicted killer lies dying in an Alice Springs hospital. After 24 years of investigations and pleas for murderer Bradley John Murdoch to reveal his movements after fatally shooting Mr Falconio and attempting to abduct his girlfriend Joanna Lees, an offer of $500,000 has been made to anyone who can lead police to the location of Mr Falconio's body. 'The body of Peter has never been located despite continued efforts by the NT police to do so by investigating any viable information or leads that have been received through the years since,' Acting Commander Mark Grieve told a press conference in Darwin on Wednesday. 'The NT police still hold out hope that someone may be able to provide some vital information to assist in this search, and as such, a fresh reward for information is now on offer of up to $500,000 for information that leads to the discovery of Peter's body. 'In what will be the 24th anniversary of his death this July, we are asking for anyone that may believe that they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police. '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.' When quizzed if Murdoch had been asked for more information on the whereabouts of Mr Falconio's body, Mr Grieve shot back 'yes we have'. 'We've made numerous approaches to Mr Murdoch over the years that have passed, and up until very recently, being this week, and unfortunately the outcome of those conversations rests with Mr Murdoch. 'On all occasions, he has chosen not to positively engage with police.' The decades-long investigation into the murder is still a sore point for police who said they would commence another search if relevant information came to light. Bradley John Murdoch was given a life sentence for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio. Credit: AAP 'This matter rests with our cold case unit at the moment and throughout the years they revise and review information and recognise there is the potential for new opportunities. 'The cold case unit feel that this is the right time to up the reward to $500,000. 'It's like any ongoing investigation: You want to solve it and we want to bring some sliver of resolution to Peter's family. We keep going wherever we can. 'We've had ongoing contact with Peter's family within the last 24-hours and we keep them apprised, and they're appreciative.' Reports surfaced this week that Murdoch has been granted permission to move from a palliative care facility where he is dying from cancer, back to the Alice Springs jail to bid former inmates and friends goodbye before his death. Could anyone close to Murdoch profit from supplying information now the reward has been bumped up to $500,000?, Mr Grieve was asked. 'Murdoch hasn't engaged with us, so look there may be someone out there that he's confided in, whether or not that's family or friends we just don't know.' 'It captured the heart of the country and it's never gone away. It's captured worldwide attention.' The murder of Mr Falconio captured headlines around the world after Ms Lees managed to escape the clutches of Murdoch after he killed Mr Falconio on a deserted outback road near Barrow Creek. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees had arrived from the UK were travelling around Australia in a Kombi van when Murdoch emerged in a vehicle alongside them and asked the couple to pull over, before shooting Mr Falconio in the head and trying to abduct Ms Lees. She managed to run and hide in bushland before waiting until she felt safe enough to flag down a passing motorist who helped her to safety and alerted emergency services. The Northern Territory Government passed a 'no body, no parole' law in 2016 which applies to Murdoch who was sentenced to 28 years for Mr Falconio's murder. He would have been eligible for parole in 2023.
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
$500,000 reward to find murdered backpacker's remains
A $500,000 reward is on the table for information leading to the discovery of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch was given a life sentence for the murder of the 28-year-old and the assault and attempted kidnap of his girlfriend Joanne Lees on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Ms Lees hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch hunted her with his dog, before she managed to flag down a truck driver. Murdoch is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio's body, which has never been found despite extensive searches. Northern Territory Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve of the Crime and Intelligence Command announced the reward on Wednesday. In 2019 Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer, at first refusing treatment but then being treated at Royal Darwin Hospital. A $500,000 reward is on the table for information leading to the discovery of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch was given a life sentence for the murder of the 28-year-old and the assault and attempted kidnap of his girlfriend Joanne Lees on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Ms Lees hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch hunted her with his dog, before she managed to flag down a truck driver. Murdoch is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio's body, which has never been found despite extensive searches. Northern Territory Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve of the Crime and Intelligence Command announced the reward on Wednesday. In 2019 Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer, at first refusing treatment but then being treated at Royal Darwin Hospital. A $500,000 reward is on the table for information leading to the discovery of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch was given a life sentence for the murder of the 28-year-old and the assault and attempted kidnap of his girlfriend Joanne Lees on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Ms Lees hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch hunted her with his dog, before she managed to flag down a truck driver. Murdoch is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio's body, which has never been found despite extensive searches. Northern Territory Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve of the Crime and Intelligence Command announced the reward on Wednesday. In 2019 Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer, at first refusing treatment but then being treated at Royal Darwin Hospital. A $500,000 reward is on the table for information leading to the discovery of murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio's remains. Bradley John Murdoch was given a life sentence for the murder of the 28-year-old and the assault and attempted kidnap of his girlfriend Joanne Lees on the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Ms Lees hid in bushland for five hours while Murdoch hunted her with his dog, before she managed to flag down a truck driver. Murdoch is believed to have hidden Mr Falconio's body, which has never been found despite extensive searches. Northern Territory Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve of the Crime and Intelligence Command announced the reward on Wednesday. In 2019 Murdoch was diagnosed with throat cancer, at first refusing treatment but then being treated at Royal Darwin Hospital.
