(In Australia) Bradley Murdoch dies without revealing where Peter Falconio's body is

 

Bradley Murdoch, who was convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has died from throat cancer at the age of 67. His death occurred on July 15 at Alice Springs Hospital’s palliative care unit, a day after the 24th anniversary of Falconio’s death. Murdoch had been serving a life sentence at a prison in the Northern Territory of Australia since his conviction in 2005.

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Peter Falconio, a 28-year-old from Yorkshire, was traveling across Australia with his girlfriend Joanne Lees when they were attacked on a remote highway near Barrow Creek. Murdoch stopped their vehicle under the pretence of warning them about mechanical issues, then fatally shot Falconio. He kidnapped and restrained Lees, but she escaped and hid in the bush for hours before flagging down a truck driver for help.

Despite multiple investigations and a high-profile trial, Murdoch never disclosed where Falconio’s body was hidden. During the trial, prosecutors said it was likely disposed of somewhere in the vast wilderness between Alice Springs and Broome. Murdoch maintained his innocence throughout, even appealing his conviction twice both attempts failed.

The brutal case shocked both Australia and the UK and partly inspired the horror film Wolf Creek. In 2016, the Northern Territory introduced a “no body, no parole” law that prevented Murdoch from being eligible for parole unless he revealed the body’s location.

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Murdoch's death has reignited public interest in one of Australia's most haunting unsolved elements the location of Peter Falconio’s remains. The Northern Territory Police confirmed that Murdoch never cooperated, despite multiple approaches before his death. Officials say they remain committed to solving this final piece of the puzzle and are offering a reward of A$500,000 (around £240,000) for credible information.

Peter Falconio’s father, Luciano, recently shared his continuing heartbreak, saying he simply wants to find and bury his son. “I know what happened but I don't know where he is,” he told NT News. Authorities and investigators, including lead detective Colleen Gwynne, expressed regret that Murdoch died without ending the family’s decades-long pain.

The police issued a statement calling it “deeply regrettable” that Murdoch died without giving any information. Acting Commander Mark Grieve confirmed that Murdoch consistently refused to engage, leaving little hope that the killer had a change of heart in his final days.

Murdoch's family also released a posthumous statement, maintaining that he had always denied the crime and was “much more than the headlines.” However, for many, that sentiment is overshadowed by the cold reality that a grieving family may never be able to lay their son to rest.

The Northern Territory Coroner will investigate Murdoch’s death, as is standard in custodial deaths. Meanwhile, police are urging anyone who might know where Falconio's body is buried to come forward, reaffirming that justice even after death remains unfinished.

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