Police release unseen Peter Falconio photos 25 years on
Northern Territory Police have released previously unseen photographs from their investigation into the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, 25 years after he was shot on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek. His body has never been found, and police hope the images will jog memories that could finally lead to a tip-off. The release marks a quarter-century since one of Australia's most infamous outback killings.
Key Takeaways
- NT Police released unseen crime-scene and evidence photos on the 25th anniversary of Peter Falconio's 2001 murder near Barrow Creek.
- Falconio, 28, from Huddersfield, was shot dead; his girlfriend Joanne Lees escaped after being bound with cable ties.
- Convicted killer Bradley Murdoch died of throat cancer in jail in July 2025 without revealing where the body was hidden.
- Police also released bodycam footage of Murdoch refusing to disclose the burial site in his final weeks alive.
- An A$500,000 reward remains on offer for information leading directly to the discovery of Falconio's remains.
What Happened to Peter Falconio in 2001?
Peter Falconio, from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, was travelling across Australia with his girlfriend Joanne Lees in an orange Volkswagen Kombi van when they were ambushed on 14 July 2001. Murdoch flagged them down on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek, about 186 miles (300km) north of Alice Springs.
At Murdoch's trial in December 2005, the court heard he shot Falconio in the head as the 28-year-old inspected the vehicle, then bound Lees's wrists with cable ties. She escaped, hid in scrubland for hours, and waved down two truck drivers. Falconio's body has never been found. Police believe Murdoch dumped it somewhere in the vast Northern Territory outback — a case that remains among Australia's most haunting true crime and unsolved mysteries.
What Photos Have Australian Police Released?
Commissioner Martin Dole said 25 years was a "significant milestone" and that he hoped releasing new images could jog memories or lead to a tip-off. The photographs include a full-length picture of Murdoch during the investigation, the couple's abandoned orange Kombi van, crime-scene images, and photos of Lees looking traumatised hours after the attack, including marks from cable ties on her wrists.
Acting Commander Mark Grieve told Sky News that police still wanted to give the Falconio family closure. As recently as July 2025, officers searched an area near Barrow Creek after a credible tip-off about the possible location of Falconio's body.
Did Bradley Murdoch Ever Reveal Where the Body Is?
Bradley Murdoch was convicted of murdering Falconio and assaulting Lees at gunpoint but maintained his innocence. He died of throat cancer aged 67 in jail last year without disclosing where Falconio's remains might be.
Police released bodycam footage of an interview filmed about a week before his death, as officers tried to get him to reveal the location of the body. An officer asks Murdoch to think about Falconio as if he were his own son; Murdoch replies: "I don't know anything about it" and "I know nothing." Commissioner Dole said it was "deeply regrettable" that Murdoch died without disclosing the location of Peter's remains, the BBC reported.
Why Does This Case Still Matter 25 Years Later?
Police say someone may still hold information never previously shared, or something Murdoch said to another person. A reward of up to A$500,000 is on offer for information leading directly to the discovery of Falconio's body. "No piece of information is too small," Commissioner Dole said; "what may seem insignificant could prove critical in helping investigators finally resolve this case."