Convicted Murderer of British Backpacker Peter Falconio Passes Away in Hospital

Murdoch, convicted for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, has died in custody due to terminal throat cancer, leaving unanswered questions about Falconio's remains.

Bradley Murdoch, the Australian man found guilty of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has passed away at the age of 67. He was serving a life sentence in a prison located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, and had been receiving treatment for terminal throat cancer in a nearby hospital. The Northern Territory Department of Corrections confirmed that a man had died while in custody.

In 2005, Murdoch was convicted for the murder of Falconio but had consistently refused to disclose the location of the victim's body. Falconio was shot on a desolate stretch of highway near Barrow Creek, approximately 300km north of Alice Springs, in July 2001. At the time of the incident, he was traveling across Australia with his British girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who was also a victim of Murdoch's attempted kidnapping and assault. Lees managed to evade capture, hiding in the outback for several hours before she was able to signal for help.

Murdoch, who was 43 during the heinous crimes, became the inspiration for the 2001 horror film "Wolf Creek," which partially recounts the chilling events of that fateful night. Recently, Australian police had increased their efforts to locate Falconio's remains, offering a reward of up to A$500,000 (£240,000) for information. Acting Commander Mark Grieve noted they still hoped that someone could provide crucial information, despite the many years that have gone by.

Police previously reached out to Murdoch in June for insights but reported he declined to cooperate. Commander Grieve expressed a desire to bring some closure to Falconio's family by recovering his remains, which adds an additional layer of tragedy to the story following Murdoch's death. As authorities continue to seek justice and answers, the ongoing mystery of Peter Falconio's disappearance remains at the forefront of the case.