Convicted Murderer of British Backpacker Peter Falconio Dies in Prison

Sun Oct 19 2025 19:15:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Bradley Murdoch, who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has passed away from throat cancer while serving a life sentence.

Bradley Murdoch, the man convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio 22 years ago, died at 67 in a Northern Territory prison. His death raises concerns for Falconio's family, who hoped Murdoch might reveal the location of their son's remains. The case remains unresolved, with police stating they will continue the search for Falconio’s body, offering a reward for information.

Bradley Murdoch, an Australian man responsible for the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has died from throat cancer at the age of 67 while serving a life sentence in a Northern Territory prison. Murdoch, convicted in 2005, never disclosed the whereabouts of Falconio's remains, a fact that has left the victim's parents, Joan and Luciano Falconio, searching for closure.

The couple expressed relief upon learning of Murdoch’s death, yet they still hold hope that Falconio's body may eventually be found. In a statement, they lamented the missed opportunity for answers, saying, "Even now we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." The Northern Territory Police Force echoed these sentiments, stating it was "deeply regrettable" that Murdoch died without revealing any information regarding the location of Falconio's remains.

Murdoch passed away in the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital on July 15, just one day after the 24th anniversary of the murder. His death will undergo investigation by the coroner. The case gained worldwide attention due to its brutal nature and was partially the inspiration for the 2005 horror film "Wolf Creek," depicting a harrowing outback abduction.

Peter Falconio was travelling with his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, when Murdoch shot him on a remote highway near Barrow Creek, roughly 300km north of Alice Springs. After murdering Falconio, Murdoch attempted to kidnap Lees, who bravely managed to escape. The police investigation was extensive, with over 600 persons of interest and ongoing media scrutiny throughout the trial.

Throughout the investigation, one key piece of evidence—a hair elastic found linked to Murdoch—led to his eventual conviction for murder and attempted assault. He maintained his innocence despite compelling DNA evidence tying him to the crime and even made unsuccessful appeals against his conviction.

The introduction of "no body, no parole" legislation in 2016 meant that Murdoch would have faced parole in 2032 if he did not reveal Falconio's remains. Murdoch's death leaves unanswered questions, as many fear that the chance for the Falconio family to recover their son's remains has been permanently lost.

In their ongoing quest for closure, police have vowed to remain committed to solving this final aspect of the case, while a reward of up to A$500,000 (£240,000) is still offered for information leading to the discovery of the British backpacker's body. Meanwhile, Murdoch's family issued a statement stressing his denial of the crimes until his death, requesting that he be remembered as more than just the crimes for which he was convicted.