Convicted Murderer of British Backpacker Peter Falconio Passes Away

The death of Bradley Murdoch, who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has left the victim's family searching for closure as remains are still undiscovered. While Murdoch's passing brings a sense of relief, the hope for finding Falconio's body remains unfulfilled.

Bradley Murdoch, aged 67, has died from throat cancer while serving a life sentence in Alice Springs, Australia, for the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio. His death took place in a palliative care unit just a day after the 24th anniversary of Falconio's tragic killing. Murdoch's family released a statement asserting their belief that he was innocent of the crime, which has never seen the victim's body returned to his grieving family.

Peter Falconio was fatally shot while traveling across Australia with his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping. The incident occurred on a desolate highway near Barrow Creek, Northern Territory. Murdoch approached the couple under the guise of providing help but instead shot Falconio in the head and attempted to abduct Lees, who managed to evade him by hiding for hours until she found help.

The investigation garnered massive media attention, making a media sensation out of Lees, with speculation about her possible involvement in the murder. Murdoch was eventually convicted in 2005, with evidence including a hair elastic linking him to the crime scene. He consistently maintained his innocence, even appealing his conviction twice without success.

Despite a new "no body, no parole" law implemented in 2016, which denied Murdoch potential parole unless he disclosed Falconio's body location, he chose to remain silent throughout his imprisonment. Since his death, Falconio’s parents, Joan and Luciano, expressed relief yet lamented the missed opportunity for closure in their son's case.

They expressed hope that the investigation could continue, as the police are committed to resolving the case, still offering substantial rewards for information concerning Falconio's remains. Acting Commander Mark Grieve noted that numerous attempts to engage Murdoch for the truth about the location of the body were unforthcoming.

Some authorities and the family acknowledge the substantial gap in closure left by Murdoch's refusal to disclose critical information. Falconio's family remains focused on cherishing their other children and grandchildren in the face of the loss they have endured.