Member-only story
Ivan Milat, aka the “Wolf Creek serial killer,” who was convicted of killing seven people near Sydney, Australia between 1992 and 1996
Ivan Milat, known as the “Wolf Creek serial killer,” was one of Australia’s most notorious criminals, convicted of the brutal murders of seven backpackers near Sydney between 1992 and 1996. His crimes shocked the nation and have left an indelible mark on Australia’s criminal history.
Background
- Full Name: Ivan Robert Marko Milat
- Born: December 27, 1944, in Guildford, New South Wales, Australia
- Died: October 27, 2019, in Long Bay Correctional Centre, Sydney, Australia
Crimes
Victims
Milat’s victims were young travelers, many of them international backpackers exploring Australia:
- Deborah Everist (19) and James Gibson (19), both from Frankston, Victoria
- Simone Schmidl (21), a German national
- Anja Habschied (20) and Gabor Neugebauer (21), a German couple
- Caroline Clarke (21) and Joanne Walters (22), both from the United Kingdom
Modus Operandi
- Luring Victims: Milat typically picked up hitchhikers along the Hume Highway, offering them a ride.
- Remote Locations: He would drive his victims to the Belanglo State Forest, a remote area south-west of Sydney.
- Brutal Killings: Once in the forest, Milat would subject his victims to horrifying acts of violence, often binding, stabbing, and shooting them.
Investigation and Arrest
- Discovery of Bodies: The bodies of the seven victims were found between 1992 and 1993, prompting a large-scale investigation by the New South Wales Police.
- Task Force Air: A special task force was set up to investigate the murders. After extensive investigations and a tip-off from a British backpacker, Paul Onions, who had survived a similar encounter with Milat in 1990, police zeroed in on Milat.
- Arrest: Ivan Milat was arrested on May 22, 1994, following a search of his home that revealed items…
