Australian police release new photos from Peter Falconio murder case

Tuesday marks the 25th anniversary since Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees’ outback disappearance, in one of Australia’s most horrific crimes.

Police are hoping that sharing photographs from the case will lead to new information on the location of Falconio’s remains.

In 2001, Falconio and Lees had been driving across Australia in a campervan, when they were ambushed on an isolated desert road in the Northern Territory.

On July 14, 2001, the couple were flagged down by Bradley John Murdoch, who claimed sparks were flying from their van.

Falconio went behind the car with Murdoch to investigate and was shot in the head.

Lees was tied up but managed to escape and hide in outback scrub for several hours while Murdoch and his dog hunted for her.

She was eventually able to wave down two men in a passing truck to help her.

Falconio’s body has never been found despite one of the most intensive searches in Australian history, involving Aboriginal trackers, outback roadblocks and helicopters.

In 2005, Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. He died on July 15, 2025, taking to the grave the secret of where he hid Falconio’s body.

In an effort to prompt renewed interest in the case, Northern Territory police on Monday released previously unseen images including one which shows a shocked-looking Lees hours after Murdoch attempted to abduct her, and another which shows a nasty graze she sustained during the ordeal.

The police also released pictures of the couple’s brightly coloured orange Volkswagen Kombi van, one of the most recognisable symbols of the case.

A photograph of convicted killer Murdoch staring at the camera was also released.

There are also images from the crime scene. One photo, taken on the road where the murder took place, appears to show evidence labels and a large pool of blood while another captures a large footprint.

Despite years of investigation, Murdoch denied having any knowledge of the murder and never revealed the location of Falconio’s body.

Northern Territory police commissioner Martin Dole said his thoughts remained with the Falconio family and Lees, whose loss and uncertainty continue to be felt 25 years on.

“This was a traumatic and horrific event for Ms Lees, and for Peter’s family, who have now gone such a long time without the answers they deserve,” Dole said.

“While a murderer has been held accountable for his crimes, this investigation can never be considered closed until Peter’s remains are found and his family can lay him to rest.

“It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch died without, as far as we know, ever disclosing the location of Peter’s remains. His cowardly silence has denied his family, friends and loved ones the closure they deserve.”

This week police also released new footage of officers attempting to convince Murdoch to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio’s remains.

A reward of $500,000 ($603,000) is still in place, in the hope that someone with information that leads directly to the discovery of Falconio’s remains comes forward.

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