A mother has recounted the devastating moment she knew her teenage daughter had been murdered, after hearing the young woman's mobile phone ringing from within bushes in a suburban park.
A Life Cut Short
On 17 March 2015, 17-year-old Masa Vukotic, a Year 12 student with dreams of becoming a lawyer, left her family home in a rural part of Melbourne, Australia, for an evening walk. She had spent a normal day attending classes, sharing a meal with her family, and chatting with her boyfriend, Timothy Draper, about an upcoming formal. Slipping on her headphones, she headed out shortly after 6pm, a time when the park was still frequented by dog walkers and joggers.
She never returned home. On her walk, Masa crossed paths with 31-year-old Sean Christian Price. According to court proceedings, Price had gone out that day deliberately looking for someone to attack. He ambushed Masa, dragged her into the bushes, and stabbed her 49 times. Prosecutor Michele Williams QC told the court that Masa pleaded for her life, but her attacker showed no mercy.
A Mother's Unthinkable Discovery
As hours passed with no sign of Masa, her mother, Natasa, grew frantic and drove to the park to search. The area was already cordoned off by police and paramedics after neighbours reported hearing screams. When Natasa told an officer her daughter was missing, they suggested she call Masa's phone.
"When she did, Natasa could hear it ringing from the bushes. She knew then that her daughter was the victim," the report states. The scene she confronted was every parent's worst nightmare.
Legacy and Legal Change
Price continued his violent spree for two more days, assaulting a man and sexually assaulting a woman in a bookshop, before turning himself in. He later pleaded guilty to Masa's murder and was sentenced to 38 years in prison. At the time of the killing, Price was living in the community under a supervision order after being released from prison, where he had served time for previous offences including rape and indecent assault.
The murder sent shockwaves across Australia and became the catalyst for a major government review. This led to the implementation of Masa's Law, legislation introducing stricter rules and detention orders designed to prevent dangerous offenders from posing a threat to the public.
Masa's sister, Nadja, continues to campaign in her memory, advocating for greater protection for women. Following the Bondi Junction attack in April last year, in which five women were murdered, Nadja shared an emotional online plea.
"My sister went for a walk about 500 metres from our house. She was killed, it wasn’t even night-time, it was 6.50pm," she said. "Enough has been enough for so long now... Something really needs to be done."
