Horror on Hoddle Street

It was a mild summer Sunday afternoon in Melbourne as I set off to explore the footsteps of Hoddle Street mass shooter Julian Knight. Stepping off the train into the quiet suburb of Clifton Hill I wondered how many of the locals still remembered the tragic massacre that happened over 33 years ago on Sunday, …

The Shark Arm Mystery: The Murder of Jim Smith

Call it bizarre, gory or just plain intriguing the Shark Arm murder mystery case is definitely something to mull over. After finding out about this grisly tale, on a trip to Sydney I was interested to explore the sights of this infamous murder mystery. There’s something bizarrely intriguing about a fisherman catching a smaller shark …

Dudley Flats: Elsie Williams

The Docklands area in Melbourne's wharf district has always been a source of curiosity and interest for me since moving to Melbourne over two years ago. However life and it's everyday responsibilities can get in the way, and it wasn't in till a couple months ago when I moved into the area, that I finally …

Frances Knorr: Melbourne baby farmer murders

As a single Mother herself, Frances Knorr was in a difficult situation when she decided to take in other women's babies for a fee. After her husband was sent to jail for selling  furniture he'd taken out on hire purchase, mother of one Frances Knorr had fallen pregnant to another man who refused to properly …

Billy the Kid

A number of years ago while hitchhiking in New Mexico I was lucky enough to be taken for a tour through the historical Lincoln town, famous for were Billy the Kid and the Regulators fought against Murphy and Dolan's Posse during the Lincoln County War. The gentleman named Bruce who picked me up, drove us …

Martha Needle: Poison she fed

Exploring the streets of Richmond, Melbourne for the sites of the Martha Needle murders, as often does, my journey took longer than planned. But after a few tram rides up and down Chapel Street I managed to find Balmain Street and heading down the increasingly narrowing street, arrived at Cubitt Street. It was at number …

The Smiling Strangler: Eddie Leonski

Stepping off the tram at the Beaconsfield Parade stop in Melbourne's Albert Park, the fresh salty smell of the nearby ocean hit me. It was easy to locate the supermarket which now sits in place of the old shops and alcove were Ivy McLeod, aged 38, had sheltered from the cold whilst waiting for her …

The Murder of Kayo Matsuzawa

On September 22nd 1998, a technician found the decomposing body of a young Asian woman in the alarm cupboard of a building in downtown Auckland. Visiting from Japan, Kayo Matsuzawa, aged 29, came to New Zealand to fulfill a dream of travel and adventure. Having worked in Christchurch for a few months, Kayo flew to …

Dennis the Heinous: The Crimes of Dennis Nilsen

In the late seventies and early eighties, a stalker named Dennis Nilsen prowled the streets and bars of London, in search of young, vulnerable men and boys. Lured back to his flat with the promise of food, alcohol and shelter, once his victims settled in comfortably, Dennis Nilsen would strike, strangling the young men before …

A Ripper Named Jack: The Jack the Ripper murders

It was a chilly autumn night on my journey to Whitechapel. In most of my journeys I view the experience through the eyes of the victim, but tonight I traveled through the eyes of the killer. Whitechapel is no longer an area known for prostitution, but not wanting to give off the wrong impression (just …