Tasmania has a number of murder and suspected homicide cases that remain unresolved, some stretching back more than a century. The cases below include confirmed homicides where nobody has been convicted, as well as disappearances where police or coronial findings indicate that foul play or murder is strongly suspected.
1859
Alice Hughes was murdered near Bridgewater in 1859. Despite an investigation, nobody was convicted of her killing. Read about the Alice Hughes Murder.
1921
Chrissie Venn was murdered near North Motton on Tasmania’s North West Coast. Her death became one of the state’s most enduring historical murder mysteries. Chrissie Venn Murder.
1969
Lucille disappeared after waiting for a bus in Hobart’s northern suburbs. A later coronial investigation concluded that she had been murdered. Lucille Butterworth Murder
1978
Darlene disappeared from Devonport in October 1978. Decades later, a Coroner concluded that she had been killed by her former partner. Darlene Geertsema Disappearance
1983
Judah Mattathyahu disappeared from his property in 1983. A coronial investigation later determined that he had been the victim of homicide.
1995
Italian visitor Victoria Cafasso murder was found murdered on Beaumaris Beach on Tasmania’s East Coast in October 1995.
2009
Shane Barker was shot dead at his Campbell Town home in August 2009. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved.
2013
Simon Crisp was fatally shot behind the Marrawah Tavern on Tasmania’s remote North West Coast in July 2013.
These cases have not necessarily resulted in a formal finding that the missing person was murdered, but police investigations, coronial findings or other evidence indicate that foul play is strongly suspected.
1991
Eve Askew disappeared from her family home at Fitzgerald in southern Tasmania. Police have long suspected that she met with foul play.
1993
German tourist Nancy Grunwaldt disappeared while cycling along Tasmania’s East Coast in 1993. Her disappearance remains one of Tasmania’s best-known mysteries.
1996
Paul Byrne disappeared from the Rossarden area in Tasmania’s north-east. Police have indicated that they strongly suspect he was murdered.
2008
Helen Munnings disappeared in Burnie in July 2008. A Coroner later concluded that she had died, while police have said they strongly suspect she was murdered.
2013
Christopher Watkins disappeared from Launceston’s northern suburbs in August 2013. Police have stated that credible information indicates he was abducted and murdered.
At least 13 well-documented unresolved Tasmanian homicide or suspected-homicide cases are represented above.
Historical research may reveal additional unsolved killings, particularly from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when records were less complete and many cases were reported only through newspapers, inquests and court records. True Crime Tasmania will continue to examine these cases using publicly available police information, coronial findings, historical records, newspaper reports and other reliable sources.
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