Unsolved serial homicides in Australia, 1965–2022

Abstract

Serial homicides attract much attention from the media, the entertainment industry, and the criminal justice field, but there appears to be no research undertaken in Australia regarding unsolved serial homicides. This exploratory study provides an overview of Australian unsolved serial homicides, reporting on characteristics related to the victims, the police investigations, and the specific details of the crimes that were both serial and unsolved. Even though small, the total number of unsolved serial homicide series on the public record is four, with 16 victims, committed by an unknown number of perpetrators. By examining coroners’ reports, textbooks, and media reports, the authors were able to tabulate victim variables that may have influenced the perpetrator’s decision to murder the chosen victim. The incident characteristics of the cases were also examined. A qualitative method was used by analysing case studies of serial homicides within the context of unsolved matters. Various publicly accessible data sources were used to provide the accounts critical to explaining victim vulnerability. The results identified factors that created victim vulnerability and successful perpetrator detection avoidance strategies.