Unfortunately, Richard Kelvin would never make it home. Mark had likely hitched a ride with someone, and his friends trusted that he would make it home. Richard and Boris remained at the park for a bit longer, kicking around the soccer ball and chatting, before eventually, Boris decided to make his way home. Hours would begin to pass, and Alan would fail to return home at all that Sunday. by enjin | Feb 12, 2021 | victim. Banquet: A Marvelous Book about "The Family Murders" in Adelaide For a week, his loved ones had been bracing themselves for the worst, but this was a confirmation of everything they had been fearing for the past several days: Alan had been violently murdered, and had spent his final hours in agony. But he then set off again, likely headed towards the distant Rundle Mall, where he was due to meet up with his friend, Daniel, that day. Millhouse would have. One victim was killed and dumped within 24 hours, another was kept alive for five weeks, and the rest were in between. How, why, or where they had seen this tape escaped the caller, but it was enough to send detectives through the paces of investigating every lead related to this: known deviants, underground porn shops, etc. Peter Leslie Millhouse was a doctor from Mt. This triggered a recurrence of his on-again/off-again bout with alcoholism, and within a week, he had checked himself into the Osmond House rehabilitation center but not before consulting with his attorney for any potential legal ramifications. For many, that meant gay-specific bars and clubs, where these individuals were allowed to socially express themselves honestly for the first time in their lives. The police came to this conclusion due to the status of his remains, which weren't nearly as decomposed as they should have been; by the time he was discovered at the end of July, he had been dead for no more than a week or two, despite having gone missing at the beginning of June. This was done in a different method to what had happened to Neil Muir's remains, but medical examiners were able to identify points in the bones just above the knees and the back where a saw had carved the body into pieces. He was able to exploit and manipulate enablers, helpers and participants over a long period of time. This story would become historic, in more ways than one. Alan lived with his parents, both English immigrants, in Salisbury: a northern suburb of Adelaide. Police wouldn't get around to conducting a door-to-door canvas of the neighborhood until Tuesday, two days after Richard had gone missing. And Marshall is no novice at delving into the minds of evil men. During the 1970s von Einem started developing strategies to lure victims into his car. It wasn't until the next day, Sunday (February 28th), that Mark's parents began to grow concerned. Once known as the "City of Churches," Adelaide began going through a stark progression in the 1960s. Add onto that abductions, drug-lacing, mutilations, victims held in captivity for weeks, and death by sado-masochism. Bevan von Einem had a network of around 25-30 people. It wasn't until Monday morning that Alan's parents decided to contact the police, having not seen him for several days. In Adelaides gay community in the 1970s and 1980s, young men were coveted for sex. The son of popular local Nine Network news presenter Rob Kelvin, he was abducted a short distance from his North Adelaide home on 5 June. Investigator Hunter made note of this, finding it odd that one man would have connections to two separate murder investigations - especially two gruesome murders that shared such grisly traits. [7] Suspect 1, an Eastern Suburbs businessman, is believed to have been with von Einem when Kelvin was abducted. But other than that, this friend had nothing new to offer police: he hadn't seen or heard from Alan since the two went their separate ways. Millhouse was charged and went to trial but was acquitted. Ten years von Einem's junior, Mr B helped von Einem pick up, drug, and rape several young men. The Family Murders is the name given to a series of five murders speculated to have been committed by a loosely connected group of individuals who came to be known as "The Family". Mark Andrew Langley, aged 18,[17] murdered in February 1982. Only one suspect has been charged and convicted for a crime. He had good grades at school, was well-liked by just about everyone, had a stable of trusted friends, and played soccer for a local Lockley club on the weekends. True Crime Conversations: The Family Murders Of Adelaide on - Apple This case includes mysterious attacks, brutal murders, and a dark conspiracy surrounding a secret group of elites that preyed on the young in the city. The Family Murders - 5 Teen Boys Raped, Tortured, And Killed The Family Murders of Adelaide Australia : r/UnresolvedMysteries - reddit Because Mark had been killed and his body been dumped in the Australian summer months, his remains had already suffered some serious decomposition by the time police were called to the scene. Neil Muir was last seen in Hindley St, Adelaide in the company of Dr Peter Leslie Millhouse at 3pm on the day he was murdered. He vividly remembered hearing a young voice shout out (which we can assume was Richard) and a group of voices screaming in protest, almost in unison. Within hours, Alan's father and grandfather found themselves tagged to identify the remains, which were undoubtedly the remains of their missing 17-year-old. The emergence of this drug would prove to be very interesting in the years to come, but at this point in the investigation, police were still struggling to connect all of the dots. Sadly, almost all of the evidence that may have been left behind was now gone, burned away to ash along with all of Peter's remaining soft tissue. Australia - Australia -the Family, 1979-83, Adelaide, B S Von Einem The Family Murders revolved around von Einem. Mark's remains had also clearly been thoroughly washed before being dumped, just like Alan Barnes. However, when Neil Muir's body was discovered, his internal organs had been removed and were gone entirely, leading to police being unable to test his blood levels. Sadly, this dark and tragic saga was just beginning. The "Family Murders" *Warning: graphic content and mentions of sexual abuse ahead. Most were later described as being worthless, but a few piqued the interest of Investigator O'Brien. The Family were not an official group, gang, or organisation. Stogneff still skipped school but never made it home. [18] His skeletal remains were found in October 1982 later by a local farmer at Middle Beach, 50km north of Adelaide. He had become so messed up on drugs and alcohol that a bouncer had to physically drag him outside of a bar, where he stumbled onto the pavement and struggled to get up. Millhouse was charged and went to trial but was acquitted. The older man in the driver's seat reached into the backseat and pulled out a beer from a cooler, offering it to George. On Saturday, February 27th, 1982, Mark attended a friend's 18th birthday party in Windsor Gardens, a neighborhood in northeastern Adelaide. The Family Murders (Part Two: The Family) Unresolved No additional leads would surface in that time-span, and police would continue to refrain from stating that the two victims so far - Alan Barnes and Neil Muir - were connected in any way (at least, they wouldn't say so publicly). Referred to as a "Randy Mandy" among the era's deviants, Mandrax was a sedative that had just become popular worldwide with the branding "Quaalude." Global Nav Open Menu . Australia's murder capital: Why can't Adelaide bury the myth? Police believe this murder is associated with other high profile murders commonly referred to in the media as the 'Family Murders'. Millhouse would have Peter intended to skip school and meet his uncle (similar age) in Rundle Mall. There are also notorious unsolved disappearances in Adelaide, including the Beaumont children. They phoned police that evening, hoping that their son's whereabouts could be chalked up to a simple miscommunication. Part One: The Murders Between 1979 and 1983, a series of heinous murders shocked Adelaide. South Australia's overdue for another This witness recalled Alan getting into a vehicle, which appeared to be a white Holden sedan. Show True Crime Conversations, Ep The Family Murders Of Adelaide - 10 Nov 2021. Police first treated Richard as a runaway; an unfortunate symptom of the times. On Saturday, June 16th, 1979, Alan spent the night at a friend's house. This was commonly found in the drug Noctec, which was an over-the-counter pharmaceutical used to aid people with sleep problems, which had been given to Alan sometime before his death. Victims - The Family Murders The Family Murders Unresolved Perhaps the most amazing thing about the case is how did von Einem find accomplices willing to be involved in such crimes? This notoriety brought with it a poor reputation, however, and by the late 1970s, Mandrax had become a regulated prescription drug throughout Australia. Kelvin was held captive for approximately five weeks[24] and a post-mortem examination revealed that he had died of massive blood loss from an anal injury,[25] likely caused by the insertion of a large blunt object. Analysis of Kelvin's bloodstream revealed traces of four hypnotic drugs,[11][26] including Mandrax and Noctec. Also, like the other victims, Mark's cause-of-death seemed to be nearly identical: blood loss from an anal injury, caused by the forced insertion of an unknown item. But a discovery by the medical examiner seemed to undermine that: in addition to all of this, Neil's genitals had been mutilated by his killer. The ongoing investigation featured in an episode of Crime Stoppers which went to air on 2 March 2009. Of the young men whose stories I'll cover in this episode, he was by far the youngest, and his face showed it: he still had the youthful appearance of a child, and by all accounts, seemed to be your typical teenage boy. The first of which was a very specific call alleging that two men - named Doug and Mark - were responsible for abducting Richard Kelvin. The Clermont County Sheriff's Office . Lock up your sons in the world's murder capital This ultimately resulted in a victory for Dr. Peter Millhouse's attorneys, earning the man an acquittal and his freedom. His body also showed signs of beatings and torture. Neil Muir had suffered the same type of anal injuries as Alan, implying that a large, bottle-shaped object had been used to intentionally injure him, which caused a large amount of blood loss. Rather than have to read the whole site, or miss updates in the case because you dont know they exist, this section will show time-stamped updates so you can keep up to date with developments. Some of the employees that worked at the area's bars recalled seeing the two together multiple times that weekend, and other character witnesses described Dr. Millhouse and Neil as being very close friends (intimate, even). [4][10], Some authorities do not recognise the term "The Family", stating that "[t]hey should not be given any title that infers legitimacy. He told officers what the two had been up to that weekend: hanging out on Saturday and into Sunday morning, before splitting up. It had been reported that Richard was wearing the collar as a joke on the afternoon he went missing, while he was kicking around the soccer ball in the park with his dad and his friend, Boris. This section explores the people who at this stage are thought to have been on the periphery. He was seventeen years old, with a youthful, handsome appearance, and a carefree, fun-loving attitude. Unfortunately, by the time they returned, Mark was nowhere to be found. Mr B made contact with police two days after Alan Barnes was found. victim - The Family Murders In 2014 when Trevor passed away, his diaries were recovered. The last victim was the son of our local television newsreader. They kicked the footy around. According to his family, this was right in-line with Richard's odd sense of humor. Young Blood refers to the age of the victims who were brutally murdered. Five young men who were drugged, viciously raped and tortured, kept captive for up to five weeks, horrifically mutilated, and ultimately murdered. Some were involved in the abduction of victims who were murdered, some were involved in the rape of murdered victims, and some were involved in murder. Father of boat crash victim Mallory Beach snubs Alex Murdaugh's family And, with the recent discovery of the chemical cocktail found in Richard Kelvin's system, they had a pretty decent foundation for their investigation. [8] The reward carried an offer of immunity to accomplices, dependent on their level of involvement. Homosexuality itself would become decriminalized just a few years later, in 1975, with the passing of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, making South Australia the first Australian state or territory where members of the LGBTQ community no longer had to fear government persecution. Like the other victims, Richard Kelvin's blood and organs were tested for any sign of drugs, with investigators hoping to find a connection to any of the prior victims. Moments later, George lost consciousness, falling prey to the drugs that he had consumed. Bevan von Einems life revolved around sexual sadism. Unfortunately, it would later be determined that he would suffer in anguish for weeks before meeting eventually dying more than a month after his initial disappearance. As the 1970s entered their homestretch, Alan was beginning to enter the phase of his life where he experimented with drug and alcohol usage. The following Sunday, June 24th - one week after Alan had last been seen alive - a couple of hikers were bushwalking up in the area known as the Adelaide Foothills. This has come to be disputed over the years, with some speculating that Alan might have willingly consumed the drug the weekend before his death; or, perhaps, he might have been slipped it by someone at the bars he was rumored to visit with his friends that Saturday. Major Crimes was primarily responsible for serial killings, mass killings, and any other high-profile crimes that the local government wanted to be handled by a specialized task force. Regardless, this information was incredibly helpful to police, who began to expand their interests to finding people in the area that drove similar vehicles. (What a lovely country, Australia!) Police spoke to Alan's friend, who had left him behind on Grand Junction Road. The Family Murders is one of Australias most captivating true crime stories. Case 166: The Family - Casefile: True Crime Podcast The area around the scar had even been shaved away, implying that this a methodical decision by someone with surgical experience perhaps someone trying to rectify a mistake. By the time they managed to look outside, whoever had been outside had already sped off. From the outside looking in, von Einem was incredibly average. A farmer that lived nearby Middle Beach and Two Wells, roughly an hour north of Adelaide, had been cleansing his farmland during the advised winter months. POLICE are investigating new information linking convicted killer Bevan Spencer von Einem to the abduction and murder of teenager Alan Barnes. Bob O'Brien was an investigator for Major Crimes, who had just started working with the unit the year prior (1982). Interview with a monster: The City of Corpses murders - news Eventually, Peter returned home with his backpack, stowing it in his family's garage while his parents were at work. If you recall, M.E. While the men in the river struggled to make it back to the shore, the group that had thrown them into the water made their escape before camera crews or onlookers could begin to gather. However, instead of charging them with any known crimes, the officers proceeded to throw the three men into the nearby Torrens River. This is an analysis of the information provided by Wendy Roles and Greg McInerney in the book The Family Murders: Dissected The Timeline 25 Aug (Sat) Michael B sees band-aid on Neil's leg at the methadone clinic during the day. Richard Kelvin's disappearance was a slightly higher profile case than the others I've covered so far - due to him being the son of the region's top newscaster - but even then, the investigation was not without fault. He was last seen stumbling down the street, supposedly wandering off to parts unknown. Following the supposed abduction of Richard Kelvin, the police unit known as Major Crimes was tasked with overseeing the investigation. Although there were in excess of 150 youths and young men who were drugged and raped, often by multiple men, this section focuses on the five young men who didnt come home. The "Family Murders" - Amateur Sleuth Description. On the afternoon of Sunday, June 5th, 1983, Richard was kicking around a soccer ball with his father Rob and his friend Boris at a park near his home. So they tried to safely guard the parts of the investigation that they could. Dylan John Kovarskis murdered Nathan Russell in 2021 . Some showed signs of prolonged captivity, while death came quick to others . I first heard of the murders in an episode of an Australian television program called . Like most of the victims targeted by this unknown subject, Richard Kelvin was a young and athletic young man, who seemed destined to have a long and rewarding life. The post-mortem revealed that Langley had died from a massive loss of blood from gross injuries to his anus, similar to Barnes. He was seen in the presence of individuals who would become relevant later on, but - at the time - were simply believed to have been his friends. Mark Langley However, unlike many of the others, it was believed that Richard had been held captive for an extended period of time, enduring torture and sexual abuse for weeks leading up to his death. While charges would later be filed against several police officers, they were ultimately acquitted; and it has been widely accepted in the decades since that local law enforcement engaged in a systematic cover-up. Police believe that up to 12 people, several of them high-profile Australians, were involved in the kidnappings. Allegations would even surface that indicated Dr. Millhouse had been one of the people in the area that supplied Neil with prescription drugs, but that would remain an allegation for the foreseeable future. Because this murder seemed like the type of crime beset by emotional issues - or likely someone with an ax to grind against Alan, personally - police initially began investigating this as a personal crime. Police had still not linked the two cases - Barnes and Neil Muir - but while being questioned about the first murder, von Einem inquired about the second without any provocation. Peter Stogneff, aged 14,[17] murdered in August 1981. He has spent that Sunday, June the 5th, playing footy, until the afternoon when his best friend Karl came over. Five murders and over 150 rapes. Alan's friend made it back to his house within minutes, but unfortunately, Alan was not so lucky. In the latter half of the 1970s, South Australia had started to regulate drugs like Mandrax, known throughout most of the world as "Quaaludes." Lost diary gives South Australia police new lead into Alan Barnes The Family Murders - Wikipedia [11], Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 04:35, List of serial killers by number of victims, Von Einem: Lawyers in new bid to re-open Kelvin case, "Doctor found not guilty of 'Family' murder of Neil Muir dies in NSW", "Australian police reopen notorious 1970s Family murders case", "Body in bag: jury acquits doctor in Adelaide", "Lost diary gives South Australia police new lead into Alan Barnes murder by The Family", "Many Theories, Few Clues in String of Adelaide Murders", "Record 24-year non-parole period for boy's killer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Family_Murders&oldid=1141259172, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 04:35.