Police in Australia are offering a significant reward of $500,000 for information that could help find the remains of Peter Falconio, a British backpacker who was murdered 24 years ago. The announcement comes as the anniversary of his tragic death approaches.
Peter Falconio, 28, and his partner Joanne Lees were traveling through the Northern Territory in 2001 when they encountered Bradley John Murdoch. He approached their camper van, claiming to help after seeing sparks from the vehicle. In a shocking turn of events, Murdoch shot Falconio in the head as he inspected the van. He then forced Lees into his vehicle, binding her wrists with cable ties.
Lees managed to escape, hiding in the outback for hours until she flagged down a passing truck. Despite extensive searches, Falconio’s body has never been found. Murdoch was convicted of murder in 2005 and is serving a life sentence, but he has consistently claimed he is innocent and has not disclosed where he disposed of Falconio’s body.
Mark Grieve, the acting Northern Territory Police commander, expressed hope that someone might have crucial information that could lead to a breakthrough in the case. He urged anyone with knowledge to come forward, emphasizing that it’s never too late to help.
As the anniversary of Falconio’s death approaches, the police hope the reward will encourage people to speak up. Murdoch, now 67, is in palliative care due to terminal throat cancer, which adds urgency to the search for answers.
Joanne Lees, who has returned to the UK, shared in a past interview that she feels she lost her life that night too. She hopes for peace but acknowledges that Falconio’s body may never be found. Murdoch’s legal battles have continued over the years, but he remains incarcerated under strict laws that prevent his release without revealing the location of Falconio’s remains.