Expert’s chilling theory about why Peter Falconio’s body may never be found – as claims emerge of killer’s ‘explosive’ last words
Killer will likely die without divulging Falconio’s whereabouts, expert says
READ MORE: Aussie Outback killer ‘just about dead’ as cops raise reward
By ANTOINETTE MILIENOS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and NICK WILSON FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Published: 12:14 BST, 26 June 2025 | Updated: 12:18 BST, 26 June 2025
The lead investigator into the death of British tourist Peter Falconio has revealed why his convicted killer will likely die before helping to locate the backpacker’s body.
Bradley John Murdoch, 67, was jailed for life over the 2001 killing of Mr Falconio, then 28, on a remote stretch of highway north of Alice Springs, though no remains have been found.
He was also convicted of the assault and attempted kidnapping of Falconio’s girlfriend Joanne Lees, who managed to escape into surrounding bushland.
It was revealed this week throat cancer-stricken Murdoch had been moved to palliative care and would soon die, raising the risk the secret of Mr Falconio’s whereabouts could die with him.
The news prompted Northern Territory police to double their reward for information that led to the location of Mr Falconio’s body to $500,000 on Wednesday.
But, more than 20 years after her investigations led to Murdoch’s arrest, former NT police officer Colleen Gwynne has suggested the killer may not know where Mr Falconio’s body is.
‘There is potential that, with the stress that (Murdoch) was under, the fact that Joanne escaped and he had a victim that was now at large, that he may – through the stress – he may have forgotten exactly where he disposed of the body,’ she told NT News.
She would be ‘surprised’ if he had forgotten, given Murdoch’s familiarity with the Outback, she said, but the theory casts doubt on the potential for a deathbed confession, which another expert, Robin Bowles, has claimed will be ‘explosive’.
Peter Falconio (left) is pictured alongside his former girlfriend Joanne Lees (right). The pair were intercepted by Murdoch as they drove through the Northern Territory in 2001
Former NT police officer Colleen Gwynne (pictured) has cast doubt on whether Bradley John Murdoch could help to locate British backpacker Peter Falconio’s remains
Convicted killer Bradley John Murdoch (right) is dying of throat cancer. He has never revealed where his victim’s body was hidden
The author released a book called Dead Centre in 2022 about the case and claims in her research she conducted 50 hours of interviews with Murdoch.
‘I know what they (his last words) are, and they will be explosive,’ she told 7News.
‘It’s a shame they weren’t able to be released earlier. You can’t sue a dead man, so if he’s making the claims, and he’s died, the proverbial might hit the fan.’
Murdoch has always maintained his innocence and has shown no indication of changing his position when spoken to by officers as recently as this week, NT police said.
‘On all occasions, he’s chosen not to positively engage with the police,’ acting commander Mark Grieve told reporters on Wednesday.
Murdoch is not eligible for parole for another eight years but, under the NT’s ‘no body, no release’ laws, he wouldn’t have been up for release without revealing the location of Mr Falconio’s remains.
Mr Falconio’s whereabouts remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in recent criminal history, with the roadside killing and Ms Lees’s miraculous escape partially inspiring the hit 2005 film Wolf Creek.
On July 14, 2001, Mr Falconio and his then-girlfriend Joanne Lees were driving between Alice Springs and Darwin in their VW Kombi campervan.
Nearly 25 years on from his death, police have not yet located Mr Falconio’s (right) remains
Pictured is the now infamous Kombi van the couple used to drive across Australia in 2001
Murdoch signalled at their car, instructing the pair to pull over on the Stuart Highway, north of Barrow Creek on the pretence their van may be experiencing engine issues.
After shooting Mr Falconio, Murdoch threatened Ms Lees before he bound her hands behind her back with cable tie restraints and bundled her into the back of his vehicle.
While Murdoch disposed of Mr Falconio’s body, Ms Lees managed to escape barefoot into surrounding bushland where she remained for five hours.
She remained hidden while Murdoch hunted for her with his dog before she eventually flagged down a passing truck.
Despite her latest theory, Ms Gwynne nonetheless welcomed the police’s decision to increase the reward for information relating to Mr Falconio’s whereabouts.
‘I think the fact the reward has come out is a great idea and it shows the Northern Territory see this still as a significant gap here,’ she told Seven News.
The remote stretch of the Stuart Highway (left) where the crime took place
Parents of murdered Brit backpacker not told about killer getting moved out of jail
‘We achieved a conviction but we still haven’t been able to find Peter and from a law enforcement point of view that’s still an important part of this.
‘It’s good to see the NT police have taken this tack. It’s important and it’s important to the family.’
Speaking from his home in Huddersfield, England, Mr Falconio’s father Luciano recently told the Daily Mail he had learned of the new reward for information through the media and had not been contacted by authorities.
His wife, Joan, previously told the Daily Mail: ‘All we ever hope is that Peter will finally be found one day, in our lifetime.’
Even if Ms Gwynne’s theory is correct and Murdoch could not recall where he had disposed of Falconio’s body, Mr Grieve said the reward could prompt other to speak up.
‘We recognise the passage of time that’s transpired, however it’s never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police,’ Mr Grieve said this week.
‘There may be someone out there he’s confided in. Whether or not that’s family or friends, we just don’t know.’
Share or comment on this article:
Expert’s chilling theory about why Peter Falconio’s body may never be found – as claims emerge of killer’s ‘explosive’ last words
Add comment