Conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearance of British backpacker Peter Falconio have resurfaced following the death of his convicted killer, Bradley John Murdoch, who died of throat cancer this week. Murdoch, 64, was found guilty of murdering Falconio in 2005, but the victim's body has never been found, fuelling a web of speculation.
One persistent theory suggests that Falconio may have staged his own death and vanished into the Australian outback to start a new life. Proponents point to the absence of a body, but police have dismissed the idea, citing blood evidence at the crime scene and the harrowing account of Falconio's girlfriend, Joanne Lees, who escaped after being bound with cable ties.
Another theory claims Murdoch had an accomplice who helped dispose of the body. In 2017, an anonymous letter alleged that Murdoch cut up Falconio's remains and instructed an associate to dissolve them in acid, but the associate instead buried them in remote Western Australia. Police investigated but found no trace.
Joanne Lees, now in her 50s, faced intense scrutiny after the attack, with some questioning her involvement. However, DNA evidence on her clothing and the camper van's gear stick linked Murdoch to the crime, and she was cleared. She has since lived a quiet life in Australia, working as a social worker.
Falconio's family, who consider Lees "like a daughter," continue to search for his remains. His mother, Joan, led efforts as recently as 2019, but without success. Australian police have revealed they received detailed tip-offs about the whereabouts of the body after Murdoch's death, but no further details have been released.
