Like most of the victims targeted by this unknown subject, Richard Kelvin was a young and athletic young man, who seemed destined to have a long and rewarding life. There's a conviction in the last murder in the series, but I will include it due to the similarity and due to the man convicted being suspected in the other murders as well. He consented to any available tests or analysis, and during a medical screening, it was discovered that the young man did have tears in his anus, proving that he had been raped. Gambier, a city roughly five hours south of Adelaide. He had struggled to wean himself off of heroin, using methadone to do so, only to have methadone become his next addiction. Stogneff's body had been cut into three pieces in a similar fashion to Muir. Listen to "The Family Murders (Part One: The Murders)" on Spreaker. Most were later described as being worthless, but a few piqued the interest of Investigator O'Brien. [21] Among the mutilations was a wound that appeared to have been cut with a surgical instrument that went from his navel to the pubic region and part of his small bowel was missing. For that reason, this crime remains technically unsolved to this day. Darko's brother dropped them at a bus stop near the corner of on Grand Junction Rd and Addison. That was when similar stories of young men being drugged and sexually assaulted began to make waves throughout Australia; young men that had been drugged with similar substances. The Family Murders: 'Dissected' - Amazon.com.au This story would become historic, in more ways than one. However, they were able to learn that - before his body was burned in the brush fire - his remains had been cut into multiple parts with a saw. Make no mistake, Bevan Spencer von Einem is the architect behind all these crimes. Criminologist Alan Perry of the University of Adelaide, has argued that the murders were part of widespread series of kidnappings and sexual assaults of boys that might number several hundred victims in South Australia from about 1973 to 1983.[11]. Things then came full circle when he began using heroin again, and shortly thereafter, followed that up with a dependence on Rohypnol ("roofies", commonly known as the date-rape drug). Shockingly, police found an insane combination of sedatives in his system, which included the drugs Noctec, Mandrax, valium, Rohypnol, and amytal. The man that had driven George there offered him a couple of pills called "No-Doz," which - he promised - would help him stay awake to enjoy the party. Mark had likely hitched a ride with someone, and his friends trusted that he would make it home. George and the driver, a man roughly twice his age with artificially-dyed hair, traveled to a nearby house where a couple of young women welcomed them. 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. An accountant by profession, he was convicted in 1984 for the murder of 15-year-old Adelaide teenager Richard Kelvin, the son of local television and radio personality Rob Kelvin. But his teachers recalled him being absent, and hours would pass that afternoon (heading into the evening) and Peter would fail to return home. 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. Lost diary gives South Australia police new lead into Alan Barnes Mark's remains had also clearly been thoroughly washed before being dumped, just like Alan Barnes. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 25, and most were found to have suffered brutal violence, sexual assaults, and/or body mutilation before their death Over time Trevor kept diary records of his conversations with that suspect as well as another suspect. Was Dr Millhouse involved in Neil Muirs murder. In Adelaides gay community in the 1970s and 1980s, young men were coveted for sex. No additional leads would surface in that time-span, and police would continue to refrain from stating that the two victims so far - Alan Barnes and Neil Muir - were connected in any way (at least, they wouldn't say so publicly). They wanted to continue eliminating suspects that personally knew Alan ahead of time, but promised to check out von Einem in the future. This was about 300 metres from his family home. Alan's friend made it back to his house within minutes, but unfortunately, Alan was not so lucky. Australia's murder capital: Why can't Adelaide bury the myth? What the two got up to that evening is anyone's guess, but rumors and theories have propagated this story in the decades since. It wasn't until the following year, 1983, that police finally rediscovered George's story. But underneath the surface, a monster lingered Gay people (in particular, gay men) began to become more comfortable in their own skin, and no longer had to suppress their sexuality in public. 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. If that was true, then could that have been happening to the other young male victims that had been viciously murdered in the preceding years? The Clermont County Sheriff's Office . Unfortunately, Richard Kelvin would never make it home. Just two days after the body of Alan Barnes was discovered - when the investigation was still unfolding - an anonymous caller reached out to police. The Kelvins, though upset at the duration of time that had already passed, understood why the process was so delayed but were hopeful that their son would return home to them, safe and sound. The head was tied to the torso with rope passed through the mouth and out through the neck. A couple of black trash bags were floating on the low tide of the river's coast. [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. It's important to note that, even though members of the LGBTQ community felt more comfortable to express themselves socially, that did not mean that everyone in the area was necessarily welcoming. 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. Because of this lack of clarity, police were unable to press forward with any charges for the offenders, and George's story would become buried by more pressing police concerns in the coming weeks and months. Unsolved - The Family Murders | Page 148 | BigFooty Forum After being arrested, Dr. Millhouse had denied ever knowing Neil, and continued stating so over the next year, openly defying the dozens of witness statements that claimed they were acquaintances at the least, intimate friends at the most. His friend likely just assumed that Peter had bailed on their plan, and likely gone to school that day. The Family Murders (Part One: The Murders) - Spreaker 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. [7] Suspect 1, an Eastern Suburbs businessman, is believed to have been with von Einem when Kelvin was abducted. Family Murders Are Adelaide's Most Horrific Unsolved Crime - PEDESTRIAN.TV An ear witness said they heard some shouting, 2020 familymurders.com All Rights Reserved. He told officers what the two had been up to that weekend: hanging out on Saturday and into Sunday morning, before splitting up. This period saw the creation of gay clubs in Adelaide (such as a location known as the Mars Bar) and other clubs where all sexualities were welcome (such as the Duke of York or Buckingham Arms, known in the area as "The Buck"). The skeletal remains of one victim bore marks to reasonably indicate a similar experience and outcome. A thrash metal band singer and members of his family were killed in an apparent murder-suicide late last month, according to police. Although there were in excess of 150 youths and young men who were drugged and raped, often by multiple men, this section focuses on the five young men who didnt come home. Some time after they went missing, their bodies would each be found, often horribly mutilated. 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. 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 male and female drove off but returned At about 6pm on a Sunday afternoon, Richard walked his friend to the bus stop on O'Connell St, North Adelaide. The evidence is contained in a detailed diary kept by a man who was a close associate of several key players in the so-called Family murders. So they tried to safely guard the parts of the investigation that they could. Unfortunately, it did not. A cold case review was opened in March 2008 with a $1,000,000 reward available for anyone who provided information leading to a conviction. Boris left on a bus, and Richard started making his way back home a trip that was no more than four-hundred meters. The other two men thrown into the river with him managed to escape with their lives, but they did not escape unscathed. He vividly remembered hearing a young voice shout out (which we can assume was Richard) and a group of voices screaming in protest, almost in unison. Millhouse was charged and went to trial but was acquitted. The information is easy to navigate and easy reference. The news was heartbreaking for those that had known Alan. Unlike other drugs, Mandrax was heavily-regulated, meaning that police could search through government records to find out who had a prescription, and whether or not they appeared on their suspect lists. Unfortunately, this lead ultimately led nowhere, so police began investigating people more tentatively linked to Neil through his social circle. Lock up your sons in the world's murder capital The Family Murders: 'Dissected' Kindle Edition - Amazon.com.au In May of 1972, three gay men - George Duncan, Roger James, and another man (whose identity has been withheld in the decades since) - were picked up by members of South Australia's police force. Bevan von Einem had a network of around 25-30 people. The medical examiners would also find a significant head wound on Neil, which wasn't significant enough to have killed him, but would have likely happened to incapacitate or subdue the man. Mr B made contact with police two days after Alan Barnes was found. Neil had several drug debts throughout Adelaide, and that is where police started their investigation. 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. Hence, the odd scar that seemed to serve no other purpose. Between 1979 and 1983, a series of heinous murders shocked Adelaide. They organized a helicopter search of the area, which O'Brien was present for, but unfortunately, the police were unable to find anything definitive. "CIA: Crime Investigation Australia" The Butchered Boys (TV - IMDb [14] The hair around the area had been shaved as it would have been in an operation in a hospital. The Family Murders revolved around von Einem. Darko's brother dropped them at a bus stop near the corner of on Grand Junction Rd and Addison Neil Muir was last seen in Hindley St, Adelaide in the company of Dr Peter Leslie Millhouse at 3pm on the day he was murdered. With these results, police were able to successfully link Richard's disappearance and death to at least two prior cases: Alan Barnes and Mark Langley, who had been similarly drugged and sexually assaulted before their deaths. Part One: The Murders Between 1979 and 1983, a series of heinous murders shocked Adelaide. As the 1970s entered their homestretch, Alan was beginning to enter the phase of his life where he experimented with drug and alcohol usage. 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. Father of boat crash victim Mallory Beach snubs Alex Murdaugh's family However, police would reach out to all of Mark's known friends, and learned that the night prior - February 27th - he had simply wandered off into the night and had not been seen since. He was able to exploit and manipulate enablers, helpers and participants over a long period of time. Sadly, this dark and tragic saga was just beginning. 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 two had been dating for about a month now, and Richard had excitedly told his mother that he planned on proposing when his girlfriend and he were nineteen years old. Neil Muir was last seen in Hindley St, Adelaide in the company of Dr Peter Leslie Millhouse at 3pm on the day he was murdered. The body count had essentially doubled within a couple of months, and police were still unsure whether or not the cases were related. Richard's family disputed this, vigorously denying the notion that Richard would have run away of his own accord. 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. Australian police launch appeal to solve string of notorious killings stretching back to 1966, The Advertiser - Doctor found not guilty of Family murder of Neil Muir dies in NSW, Kimberly Riley & Jeremy Britt-Bayinthavong, Paul Skiba, Sarah Skiba, and Lorenzo Chivers, June & Jennifer Gibbons (The Silent Twins). 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. Alan was supposed to find a ride back home and was taking his luck hitchhiking, hoping that someone willing to pick him up would be heading north towards his family's neighborhood of Salisbury. Mr B - The Family Murders This has come to be disputed over the years, with some speculating that Alan might have willingly consumed the drug the weekend before his death; or, perhaps, he might have been slipped it by someone at the bars he was rumored to visit with his friends that Saturday. But he decided to instead head to a local mall, named Tea Tree Plaza, where Peter and his friends often hung out on the weekends. This group was believed to be involved in the kidnapping and sexual abuse of a number of teenage boys and young men, as well as the torture and murder of five young men aged between 14 and 25, in Adelaide, South Australia, in the 1970s and 1980s. 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. A day or two prior, at least. If you recall, M.E. There are also notorious unsolved disappearances in Adelaide, including the Beaumont children. A short time later, police were contacted and later arrived at the scene to document the grisly find. The Family Murders is the name given to a series of five murders speculated to have been committed by a loosely connected group of individuals who came to be known as "The Family".This group was believed to be involved in the kidnapping and sexual abuse of a number of teenage boys and young men, as well as the torture and murder of five young men aged between 14 and 25, in Adelaide, South . The Family Murders - Wikipedia Even though Dr. Peter Millhouse had supposedly known Neil Muir for several years, there was never any proof that the two had a sexual relationship. This included people that visited the same bars and clubs as Neil and perhaps knew him that way. However, that was very circumstantial evidence at best, and anything but definitive. Gino Gambardella regularly scouted Rundle Mall and video game arcades for runaways, homeless teenagers, and youths who he was able to exploit. Because of this prime location, Adelaide has become one of the country's most populated areas, and more than a million Australians live in the city itself; which is split in half by the Torrens River, which runs through the center of Adelaide. Neil Muir's body had been so badly mutilated that he still barely resembled an entire being. [8] The reward carried an offer of immunity to accomplices, dependent on their level of involvement. The Family werent an official club or group, rather a loose collection of people with Bevan von Einem at the centre. It's 1983, and a 15-year-old boy named Richard Kelvin is in a laneway in North Adelaide. Investigators were unable to pinpoint Peter's exact cause-of-death, or even estimate when he had been killed. The first of which was a very specific call alleging that two men - named Doug and Mark - were responsible for abducting Richard Kelvin. In addition to the driver, there appeared to be a couple of other occupants inside of the car that they, unfortunately, could not recall many details of. 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. The police came to this conclusion due to the status of his remains, which weren't nearly as decomposed as they should have been; by the time he was discovered at the end of July, he had been dead for no more than a week or two, despite having gone missing at the beginning of June. Of the five men that fell prey to this violent killer, at least two had been drugged with Mandrax, as had George. Because Mark had been killed and his body been dumped in the Australian summer months, his remains had already suffered some serious decomposition by the time police were called to the scene. There were signs that he had been tortured and beaten by a sexual sadist, who had likely kept Alan drugged with a chemical compound named chloral hydrate. However, when Neil Muir's body was discovered, his internal organs had been removed and were gone entirely, leading to police being unable to test his blood levels. They knew then that the description of the remains - should it become public knowledge - would alert a lot of media to the story and scare a lot of people. The very next day - August 28th, 1979 - a couple of fishermen were heading out to the Port Adelaide River, on what was supposed to be a regular workday for them. Eventually, Peter's parents discovered the plot among Peter and his friend to skip school, and conveyed this information to the police - who were just as alarmed as they were. 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. The following morning, however, is a different story. 1979: The Family (1 year) 1999: Snowtown murders discovered (20 years) As of 2021, this is the longest Adelaide has gone without a crime that has made national or international headlines as either a weird case (Somerton Man), child kidnapping or brutal serial killings since WWII. George, an impressionable young man, was enticed by the offer and accepted. The Family Murders is the name given to a series of five murders speculated to have been committed by a loosely connected group of individuals who came to be known as "The Family". This group was believed to be involved in the kidnapping and sexual abuse of a number of teenage boys and young men, as well as the torture and murder of five young men aged between 14 and 25, in Adelaide, South Australia, in the 1970s and 1980s. After all, three of the victims (Alan Barnes, Neil Muir, and Mark Langley) had all died of similar injuries, and at least three (Alan Barnes, Mark Langley, and now Richard Kelvin) had all gone missing on Sundays. [4][10], Some authorities do not recognise the term "The Family", stating that "[t]hey should not be given any title that infers legitimacy. The Family Murders in South Australia : r/UnresolvedMysteries There, George was plied with beers and other alcoholic beverages while the older women flirted with him. The Family Murders Unresolved The Family Murders - Wikipedia 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. They kicked the footy around. Stogneff still skipped school but never made it home. This is made apparent when we look at a story from 1972, which ultimately led to drastic overhauls in Southern Australian law and cemented its place in the nation's history. Five murders and over 150 rapes. von Einem is serving life imprisonment. victim - The Family Murders The Family Murders is one of Australia's most captivating true crime stories. Mark Langley Add onto that abductions, drug-lacing, mutilations, victims held in captivity for weeks, and death by sado-masochism. The Family Murders - Strange Matters Podcast Although each attack and mutilation appeared different, police investigators soon began to link the horrific murders to one another. The Family Murders is a well known and notorious series of crimes that occurred in Adelaide, Australia. When police had arrived at the crime scene, they assumed that whoever had tried to dump the body of Alan Barnes had failed, in some way. The Family Murders is the name given to the murders of five young men and boys between 1979 and 1983, with all abducted from the streets of Adelaide before being taken to another location,. Alan Barnes was a teenager growing up in this environment, who seemed to live on the bubble between childhood and adulthood in the winter of 1979. Richard walked him down the road to the nearby O'Connell Street bus stop, arriving without incident, and waited there for his friend's bus to arrive. 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 [16][22] The sedative-hypnotic drug Mandrax, popular in the 1970s disco scene, was found in Langley's blood. He was in G Block of Yatala Prison for decades but was transferred to Port Augusta Prison in the north of the state in 2007. The Family Murders Of Adelaide. Unfortunately, that Thursday, Peter never arrived at the mall to meet his friend. Five young men who were drugged, viciously raped and tortured, kept captive for up to five weeks, horrifically mutilated, and ultimately murdered. After doing away with his old, dried-up crops, the farmer was looking over his land when he came upon the now-charred remains of young Peter Stogneff. Just east of Adelaide, this area is well-known to Southern Australians, as it serves as a primary destination for the area's outdoorsmen and women. Meanwhile, the mutilation of Neil Muir's body seemed to be identical to that perpetrated upon Peter Stogneff's remains, whose limbs had been similarly severed with a saw-like device. In the latter half of the 1970s, South Australia had started to regulate drugs like Mandrax, known throughout most of the world as "Quaaludes." South Australia's overdue for another These people have no such bond, only an association that with time probably no longer exists". But he then set off again, likely headed towards the distant Rundle Mall, where he was due to meet up with his friend, Daniel, that day. Players - The Family Murders He had a network of over 30 people. Unfortunately, from there, the trail would go cold for over a year at which point, another victim had already become ensnared in this tragic saga. That was believed to have been Neil's cause-of-death, same as Alan Barnes. He had multiple channels to procuring young men. In 1979, residents of Adelaide were gripped by fear when several young men began to go missing under mysterious circumstances. His body also showed signs of beatings and torture. 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. For that reason, many of these men and women had to keep their sexuality confined to specific locations. This triggered a recurrence of his on-again/off-again bout with alcoholism, and within a week, he had checked himself into the Osmond House rehabilitation center but not before consulting with his attorney for any potential legal ramifications.