Summary
**We start this episode with an update on this case! Just mere days before releasing this episode a 65 Yr Old man was arrested in Rome in connection to the Easey Street murders. We await his extradition and then a trial. We will continue to update this case as more information comes to light. Also to note, the man who has been arrested is a Greek and Australian national, however there is no connection between this man and Baby Gregory's father, it is pure coincidence that they are both Greek. Melbounre had a very large Greek population at the time of the murders.**
The Easey Street murders occurred in Melbourne in 1977, where two young women, Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong, were brutally killed in their home. The case remains unsolved. The initial perception of the victims as prostitutes hindered the investigation. The women were independent and traveled extensively. The crime scene was a small workers cottage with a unique layout, making it difficult for neighbors to hear any disturbance. The forensic evidence, including seminal fluid, was mishandled and lost for many years, raising questions about its reliability. Several witnesses reported hearing suspicious noises on the night of the murders. The investigation into the Easey Street Murders was plagued by a lack of thoroughness and missed opportunities. The police failed to properly canvass the neighborhood and interview potential witnesses. Key witnesses, such as Gladys Coventry and Peter Sellers, were dismissed or not interviewed at all. The bodies of the victims were not discovered until three days after their deaths, further complicating the investigation. The primary suspects in the case were journalist John Grant, the tobacco salesman, and an ex-police officer. However, none of them were convicted and the case remains unsolved.
Takeaways
The Easy Street murders remain unsolved, highlighting the challenges of investigating cases with limited evidence and misconceptions about the victims.
The victims, Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong, were independent women who traveled and lived on their own, challenging societal norms at the time.
The unique layout of the crime scene and the hot weather on the night of the murders may have contributed to the lack of witnesses or disturbance reports.
The mishandling and loss of forensic evidence, including seminal fluid, raises doubts about its reliability and potential impact on the investigation.
Witness accounts of suspicious noises and a man carrying a knife provide potential leads for further investigation. The investigation into the Easy Street Murders was marred by a lack of thoroughness and missed opportunities.
Key witnesses were dismissed or not interviewed, and the bodies were not discovered until three days later.
The primary suspects were journalist John Grant, the tobacco salesman, and an ex-police officer, but none were convicted.
The case remains unsolved, but there is still a $1 million reward for information leading to an arrest.
Links to Sources
Life and Crimes with Ansrew Rule: The horror at Easey Street
Casefile Presents: The Easey Street Murders with Helen Thomas
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Chapters
00:00 Brief Update - An Arrest Has Been Made
03:24 Introduction
07:42 The Easy Street Murders Case
16:26 Discovery of the Crime Scene
23:37 Investigation and Forensic Evidence
35:30 Witness Testimonies
39:13 The Investigation: Missed Opportunities
48:29 The Suspects: Journalist, Tobacco Salesman, and Ex-Police Officer
01:11:12 The Evidence: Knife and Face Washer
