Unsolved murder mystery on Easey Street finally comes to an end after 47 years.
Way back in 1977, a shocking double murder took place in Melbourne, Australia, and the case remained unsolved up until now. The primary suspect, who had fled the country, was recently apprehended in Rome. It's interesting to note that police had actually checked this individual the night of the crime itself.
Over 44 years later, Australian law enforcement officers may finally put an end to this country's prolonged unsolved murder case. The 65-year-old suspect, who holds dual citizenship in Greece and Australia, was taken into custody in Rome.
In the early hours of January 13, 1977, two young women, Suzanne Armstrong (27) and Susan Bartlett (28), were found murdered in their Easey Street home. Shane Patton, the Victoria Police Chief, described the scene as "horrendous, terrifying, and crazy," with multiple stab wounds inflicted upon the victims. The case had stumped investigators for decades.
The suspect had been under the radar of Australian authorities for quite some time. However, Greece refused to extradite him, forcing Australian investigators to wait for his departure from the country. It wasn't until Thursday that the Italian police arrested him at Fiumicino Airport with an Interpol-issued international arrest warrant. Australia is now working on securing his extradition from Italy.
In 2017, Australian authorities announced a $1 million (AU) reward for any information leading to the suspect's arrest, following the discovery of new evidence. Patton did not disclose any additional details concerning the investigation.
Fleeing Suspect's 2017 Flight to Greece
As reported by Melbourne's "The Age" newspaper, the suspect was on a list of 131 individuals whose DNA was intended to be compared to evidence from the case. Upon request, he provided a DNA sample but then fled to Greece in 2017. Police suspected him based on the DNA of a close relative.
According to this newspaper report, the suspect was stopped and searched by police on the very night of the crime and was allegedly found carrying a large knife. However, investigators focused their efforts on other suspects, claiming to have not interrogated the arrested individual. These claims have not been verified by police.
The Italian police arrested the primary suspect at Fiumicino Airport with an Interpol-issued international arrest warrant, thanks to the collaboration between Australian and Italian authorities. Despite being stopped and searched by police on the night of the crime, carrying a large knife, the suspect was not initially a primary focus of the investigation.
