A significant turn in the nearly 50-year-old cold case of the Easey Street murders emerges as Perry Kouroumblis is extradited from Italy to Australia, following DNA advancements that reopened the investigation into the tragic deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett.
Cold Case Breakthrough: Suspect Extradited for 1977 Melbourne Murders
Cold Case Breakthrough: Suspect Extradited for 1977 Melbourne Murders
Perry Kouroumblis faces justice in Australia after being extradited from Italy over the infamous Easey Street murders.
A man wanted for one of Australia’s most notorious unsolved cases, known as the Easey Street murders, has been extradited from Italy. Perry Kouroumblis, aged 65, is linked to the 1977 killings of high school friends Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, whose brutal murders shocked the nation and remain deeply embedded in Australian criminal history.
Kouroumblis became a significant suspect only in recent years due to advancements in DNA testing methodologies. He was arrested in Rome in September but has yet to be formally charged and continues to assert his innocence. His return to Australia is expected late on Tuesday.
The tragic event unfolded in Collingwood, a neighbourhood in Melbourne, with the women found dead in their home three days after disappearing. The case became all the more harrowing when authorities discovered Armstrong's one-year-old son untouched in his cot. Both women suffered multiple stab wounds, with evidence of sexual assault against Armstrong, igniting massive public interest and media coverage.
The investigation has a long history of appeals, including a substantial A$1 million reward offered by Victoria Police in 2017 in hopes of uncovering new leads. Commissioner Shane Patton described the crime as “gruesome” and emphasized its profound impact on the community, mentioning how the murders violated the sanctity of the victims' home—usually a place of safety.
Before his extradition, Kouroumblis had to navigate complex legal barriers while residing in Greece, where the judicial system mandates murder charges be filed within two decades of the incident. After a sustained effort by authorities, Kouroumblis was apprehended following a red notice issued by Interpol for charges of murder and rape.
Families of the victims shared a powerful statement reflecting their ongoing struggle with the aftermath of the murders: "Our lives were changed irrevocably... it's impossible to comprehend the needless and violent manner in which Suzanne and Susan died." The family also expressed gratitude to the police for their relentless commitment to seeking justice.
