the family murders adelaide victims

His body also showed signs of beatings and torture. On this night, in particular, that included these three men. I first heard of the murders in an episode of an Australian television program called . This notoriety brought with it a poor reputation, however, and by the late 1970s, Mandrax had become a regulated prescription drug throughout Australia. The Family Murders is the name given to a series of five sadistic murders committed by a loosely connected group of individuals who came to be known as The Family. Subsequent efforts to reach Alan through his friends had failed, and none of them had seen him since the weekend. For many, that meant gay-specific bars and clubs, where these individuals were allowed to socially express themselves honestly for the first time in their lives. [14][15] Skin bearing tattoos had been removed and most of the body parts were placed in another garbage bag before being placed within the abdominal cavity. [5] Others, who have examined the cases, however, argue that there were many more victims. The body count had essentially doubled within a couple of months, and police were still unsure whether or not the cases were related. 17-year-old Alan Barnes, 25-year-old Neil Muir, 14-year-old Peter Stogneff, 18-year-old Mark Langley and 15-year-old Richard Kelvin were later found dumped in the Adelaide Hills and surrounds. Later on, Ian would recall the argument cropping up around cigarettes, but that just proves the point of how nonessential it was. A Breakdown of a series of murders that took place in Adelaide, South This group was believed to be involved in the kidnapping and sexual abuse of approximately 150 teenage boys and young men, as well as the torture and murder of 5 young men aged between 14 and 25, in the city of Adelaide, South Australia, in the 1970s and 1980s. It was broad daylight, and both were assured that Alan would easily be able to find a ride to take him the few miles home. He was seen in the presence of individuals who would become relevant later on, but - at the time - were simply believed to have been his friends. The emergence of this drug would prove to be very interesting in the years to come, but at this point in the investigation, police were still struggling to connect all of the dots. The Family Murders was a series of murders in the 1970s and 1980s that targeted young men in Adelaide, South Australia between the ages of 14 and 25. Victims - The Family Murders Peter Stogneff. Police first treated Richard as a runaway; an unfortunate symptom of the times. It wasn't until the following year, 1983, that police finally rediscovered George's story. His friend likely just assumed that Peter had bailed on their plan, and likely gone to school that day. Hence, the odd scar that seemed to serve no other purpose. One victim was killed and dumped within 24 hours, another was kept alive for five weeks, and the rest were in between. [2] The suspects and their associates were linked mainly by their shared habits of "actively [having] sought out young males for sex," sometimes drugging and raping their victims. But, just like the failure to properly drop Alan's body into the water, these bags had failed to make it to their intended location; still resting against the coast, instead of floating out to sea, where they'd have been lost forever. [citation needed]. His remains had been dissected and neatly cut into many pieces, placed in a garbage bag and thrown into the Port River at Port Adelaide. It was a group of homosexual men and transgender women who formed a network around convicted murderer and sexual sadist Bevan Spencer von Einem, based on the drugging, raping and sometimes murder of youths and young men. 4 had horrific injuries with clear signs of torture, abuse and confinement lasting up to 5 weeks. Oh, that reminds me. [11], Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 04:35, List of serial killers by number of victims, Von Einem: Lawyers in new bid to re-open Kelvin case, "Doctor found not guilty of 'Family' murder of Neil Muir dies in NSW", "Australian police reopen notorious 1970s Family murders case", "Body in bag: jury acquits doctor in Adelaide", "Lost diary gives South Australia police new lead into Alan Barnes murder by The Family", "Many Theories, Few Clues in String of Adelaide Murders", "Record 24-year non-parole period for boy's killer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Family_Murders&oldid=1141259172, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 04:35. Detective O'Brien was the unfortunate one tasked with notifying the Kelvins that Richard's body had been found; which he describes in his book as one of the most heartbreaking duties he's ever had to endure. Needing to get away from his friends and clear his head, Mark decided to get out and walk away. Once known as the "City of Churches," Adelaide began going through a stark progression in the 1960s. Richard was found wearing the same clothing that he had been wearing on the day of his disappearance, but in an unusual twist, was found to be wearing his family dog's collar. Alan and his friend bid adieu to one another, with his friend assured that Alan would be okay; Grand Junction Road was always busy and teeming with life, and it wasn't like he was leaving Alan in the middle of the night. While Neil Muir had endured a similar fate, his remains were too badly mutilated to test for any drugs; however, the injuries suffered seemed to be identical. [7] Suspect 1, an Eastern Suburbs businessman, is believed to have been with von Einem when Kelvin was abducted. Veale Gardens had a thriving male prostitution scene, many of which were underage. But the rumors that he engaged in sex work were mainly perpetrated by those that knew him from his regular haunts: members of Adelaide's gay community, who regularly saw Neil at the gay-friendly bars they frequented. Family Murders Are Adelaide's Most Horrific Unsolved Crime - PEDESTRIAN.TV Police wouldn't get around to conducting a door-to-door canvas of the neighborhood until Tuesday, two days after Richard had gone missing. The fishermen probed the bags - a mystery just waiting to be unearthed - and quickly discovered that the bags held human remains. Both witnesses - who were friends with Neil and drug users themselves - were prepared to testify should this man be tried for the murder. [8] Little more could be determined as the remains had been accidentally burnt by the farmer while clearing his property of scrub.[11][19]. George Duncan, one of the three men thrown into the Torrens, would drown that evening. Trace evidence, including hair and fibres from von Einem's home, was found on Kelvin's body and clothing. This was cancelled the night before. They tried to hitch a ride on Grand Junction Road, a busy thoroughfare in Adelaide, before realizing that they were going to have no luck hitchhiking together. Rumours of high-society involvement and cover-ups. Gino Gambardella regularly scouted Rundle Mall and video game arcades for runaways, homeless teenagers, and youths who he was able to exploit. If your information is verified and its not breaking any laws, we may publish it. Over the next few days, it became apparent that Alan Barnes was not returning home. The following Sunday, June 24th - one week after Alan had last been seen alive - a couple of hikers were bushwalking up in the area known as the Adelaide Foothills. The Butchered Boys: This episode revisits Adelaide's notorious Adelaide Family Murders case, where six young Adelaide men were murdered during the 1970s and '80s. The name of the group stems from an interview a police detective gave on 60 Minutes, claiming the police were taking action to break up the happy family. He had seemingly disappeared, and a brief search of the area failed to come up with him. Shockingly, police found an insane combination of sedatives in his system, which included the drugs Noctec, Mandrax, valium, Rohypnol, and amytal. Suspect 2, a former male prostitute and close friend of von Einem known as Mr B. Needless to say, over the past few months, this investigation had become a new beast entirely. In the days to come, police began asking around the area for any sign of Peter Stogneff and discovered that the teen had essentially vanished into thin air. Wife 'kills family in murder-suicide' - news.com.au I think we might get closer to understanding what happened but I think lack of physical evidence pretty much rules out any more charges being laid. The death of George Duncan would serve as a catalyst, eventually martyring Duncan himself and leading to repeals of South Australia's harsh anti-homosexuality laws. Bevan von Einems life revolved around sexual sadism. Some showed signs of prolonged captivity, while death came quick to others . Nine days after Mark Langley went missing, his body was discovered in the Adelaide Foothills, close to Mount Lofty in the area known as Summertown. Police didn't believe that this voice was Richard, as he was a teenager with a deep voice that had already cracked. In August of 1979, Neil was living alone in an apartment on Carrington Street, right in the middle of Adelaide itself. The Family Murders: 'Dissected' - Amazon.com.au Over time Trevor kept diary records of his conversations with that suspect as well as another suspect. His mother, Judy, would later describe him as being incredibly witty; "cheeky," as she describes in a 2006 documentary, going on to say that Alan was always quick on his feet, and would respond to any type of comment with something sarcastic and bitterly funny. Only one suspect has been charged and convicted for the crimes: Bevan Spencer von Einem was sentenced in 1984 to a minimum of 24 years (later extended to a minimum 36-year term) for the murder of 15-year-old Richard Kelvin. He loved music - both playing it and listening to it - and had a good rapport with his friends, whom he hung around constantly. Our locations section shows where all the events happened and where all the players lived. He was last seen stumbling down the street, supposedly wandering off to parts unknown. At this point, the idea of a random killer hadn't even crossed investigators' minds. Part One: The Murders Between 1979 and 1983, a series of heinous murders shocked Adelaide. The Family Murders Of Adelaide. Examiners discovered that just a few inches above his groin - just below his navel - Mark had a small surgical scar that had been sealed shut with staples and a specific type of Johnson & Johnson surgical tape. Some of the victims were brutally tortured, or horrifically mutilated or cut up. Among friends, Alan had begun to smoke weed and experiment with new things, pushing himself to the limits of his comfort zone to discover who he was and what he enjoyed. When a warrant was eventually served on Dr. Millhouse's cottage in northern Adelaide, police found the same type of trash bags and rope that had been found with Neil Muir's remains. This story would become historic, in more ways than one. The Family Murders - Strange Matters Podcast Writing, research, hosting, and production by Micheal Whelan, Producers: Maggyjames, Ben Krokum, Roberta Janson, Quil Carter, Peggy Belarde, Laura Hannan, Damion Moore, Amy Hampton, Scott Meesey, Steven Wilson, Scott Patzold, Marie Vanglund, Lori Rodriguez, Jessica Yount, Aimee McGregor, Danny Williams, Sue Kirk, Victoria Reid, Sara Moscaritolo, Thomas Ahearn, Marion Welsh, Seth Morgan, Sydney Scotton, Alyssa Lawton, Kelly Jo Hapgood, Patrick Laakso, Meadow Landry, Rebecca Miller, and Tatum Bautista, Original music created by Micheal Whelan through Amper Music, Other music created and composed by Ailsa Traves, Young Bloods: The Story of the Family Murders by Bob OBrien, Crime Stoppers (South Australia) - Alan Arthur Barnes, Crime Stoppers (South Australia) - Neil Fredrick Muir, Crime Stoppers (South Australia) - Peter Stogneff, Crime Stoppers (South Australia) - Mark Andrew Langley, Crime Stoppers (South Australia) - Richard Kelvin, The Sydney Morning Herald - Adelaides Duncan case: letting some light shine in, The Sydney Morning Herald - Boys murderer refused High Court appeal, The Sydney Morning Herald - Macabre Adelaide (1), The Sydney Morning Herald - Macabre Adelaide (2), The Sydney Morning Herald - Murderer quizzed on death of youth, The Age - Men fled as Duncan died, court told, The Sydney Morning Herald - The Beaumonts, Kirste and Joanne: the mystery may be over, The Sydney Morning Herald - Witness feared threats to his life, The Age - Court told rape victim thought he would die, The Sydney Morning Herald - Family killings murder charge dropped, The Age - Lock up your sons in the worlds murder capital, The Weekend Australian - How Mother Goose ducked pedophile net, The Advertiser - Police seek von Einem associate, Perth Now - DNA tests for Family murder suspects, The Advertiser - $5M reward bid to solve Family murders, The Sydney Morning Herald - Reward doubled to solve Family murders, The Telegraph - Australian police reopen notorious 1970s Family murders case, The Sydney Morning Herald - Aussie pedophile deported from Indonesia, The Advertiser - Focus on three key suspects, The Advertiser - Revealed: The double life of a magistrate who sought young men, ABC News - Mother Goose sex trial starts in Adelaide, The Advertiser - Mother Goose claims he was set up by gay ex-prostitutes, The Advertiser - Doctor with alleged links to The Family identified as Stephen George Woodards, The Advertiser - Sex-case doctor Stephen George Woodards free to practise, ABC News - Mother Goose acquitted of sex charges, The Advertiser - Paedophile Peter Liddy fears prison attack, ABC News - Former TV entertainer sentenced for sex offences, The Advertiser - Lost diary gives South Australia police new lead into Alan Barnes murder by The Family, The Daily Mail - Will $13million reward solve the murders of 18 children? On Saturday, June 16th, 1979, Alan spent the night at a friend's house. At the same time he was developing a network of people who made it possible for him to carry out his sexually sadistic fantasies. Bob O'Brien was an investigator for Major Crimes, who had just started working with the unit the year prior (1982). Millhouse would have Peter intended to skip school and meet his uncle (similar age) in Rundle Mall. While police pounded the pavement to find out what had happened to Richard Kelvin, the young man's life was slowly coming to an end. In the days immediately after Neil Muir's death, Dr. Millhouse had gone on a bit of a self-described "bender." Between 1979 and 1983, a series of heinous murders shocked Adelaide. [3], Von Einem was convicted in 1984 of the murder of Kelvin and sentenced to life imprisonment. Over a span of several years starting in 1979 and into the 80s five young men, aged from 14 to 25, went missing in different areas of Adelaide. The closest thing to hard evidence that police found in this sweep was what appeared to be traces of blood on the bathroom floor, which had been cleaned multiple times over with a chemical agent; and, as such, could not be tested. Neil Muir had suffered the same type of anal injuries as Alan, implying that a large, bottle-shaped object had been used to intentionally injure him, which caused a large amount of blood loss. But only one recalled seeing where Alan might have gone. However, instead of charging them with any known crimes, the officers proceeded to throw the three men into the nearby Torrens River. Some were involved in the abduction of victims who were murdered, some were involved in the rape of murdered victims, and some were involved in murder. It was speculated that a foreign object had caused the internal perforations, leading to the belief that the killer had been a sexual sadist whose only intent was to cause physical pain. The Family Murders: 'Dissected' Kindle Edition - Amazon.com.au Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is perhaps most well known for its beautiful, scenic landscape, which is wedged in-between the Adelaide Foothills to the east, the coastline that runs along the west and down into the southern cape, and expanse of vast Australia that lies to the north. He was the son of Channel 9 News host Rob Kelvin, who had just recently taken over the hosting gig after more than a decade of field reporting through the station and a radio affiliate. [4][5] In 1989, von Einem was charged with the murders of two other victims, Barnes and Langley, but the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi (voluntarily discontinue criminal charges) during the trial when crucial similar fact evidence was deemed inadmissible by the presiding judge. This young man, Bevan Spencer von Einem - an acquaintance of James' - had helped James make it to shore and then drove him to the nearby Royal Adelaide Hospital. Enjoy reading. This conflict has endured because Alan's bloodstream also showed signs of alcohol consumption, which Alan had participated in that same weekend. A post-mortem examination revealed that Barnes had died of massive blood loss from an anal injury, likely caused by the insertion of a large blunt object. Alan lived with his parents, both English immigrants, in Salisbury: a northern suburb of Adelaide. [6] Von Einem was also one of the last people seen with a fourth victim, Muir, following his abduction. While working for Major Crimes, Investigator O'Brien received an anonymous tip that Richard Kelvin was being held against his will in a caravan in the Adelaide Foothills. He would literally go on to write the book about this terrifying saga, called "Young Bloods," which - if you're interested - is one of the best resources for this case. One such case is the Family Murders of Adelaide, Australia. They drove to War Memorial Drive (150m east of the Adelaide Rowing Club ) when Mark had a minor argument with the other male so got out and left. This caller told detectives that a man named Bevan Spencer von Einem was responsible for Alan's death, and his name was added to the list of potential suspects to explore. Mark Langley These were connections that were hard to overlook, as police began to theorize that a single offender (or, rather, a group of offenders) had been behind all of these crimes. Once in the car they would be offered a drink that was laced with a knockout drug. This site is constantly being updated as more is learned.