Family Murders Part 1

The Family Murders is about a series of murders that occurred in Adelaide from 1979 to 1983. Part 1: - In May of 1972, three gay men were picked up by members of the South Australian Police Force. Instead of charging them with crimes, these members threw the men into the Torrens River, and managed to escaped before anyone saw them. While charges would later be filed against several police officers, they were ultimately acquitted. One of the men thrown into the river drowned while the other two escaped. A man named Bevan Spencer Von Einem helped one of the men, Roger James, to shore and took him to the Adelaide Hospital. Following the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1975, Adelaide became known as one of the more progressive cities in Australia. Gay people no longer had to suppress their sexuality in public. Alan Barnes, one of the victims, began experimenting with drugs. After a day out with his friend, the two decided to hitchhike back home. They had to hitchhike in separate cars - Alan was not so lucky and never made it home. Several eyewitnesses saw Alan getting into a white Holden sedan. This information was helpful to police who began finding people in the area who drove similar vehicles. One week after Alan was last seen alive, two hikers were bushwalking in the Adelaide Foothills. They noticed what looked like a human body. Moments later police were contacted and arrived at the scene. Once it was confirmed the body was that of Alan Barnes, the news was of course heartbreaking for his family members. It appeared that Alan had been drugged. Two days after Alan's body was found, police received an anonymous call from someone saying that von Einem was responsible for Alan's death. Neil Muir was the next victim. His body was discovered by two fisherman; the body was found in a garbage bag on the low tide. Peter Stogneff was the youngest of the victims. One day him and his friend decided to skip school and meet at their local mall. Unfortunately Peter never made it, and his whereabouts was still unknown a year later. 18-year-old Mark Langley, another victim, went to a friend's birthday party. He had an argument with his friends and they all parted ways, his friends returning minutes later; however, Mark was nowhere to be seen. Nine days later Mark's body was found in the Adelaide Foothills. In June 1982 the remains of Peter Stogneff were found on some farmland. In 1983 Richard Kelvin was playing soccer with his father and friend at a local park. When Richard and his friend decided to part ways and go home, Richard unfortunately never made it home. At least one witness heard a young voice shouting, (presumably Richard's), and a group of voices screaming in protest. They also recalled hearing a loud car speed off after the screaming. While working for Major Crimes, Bob O'Brien received an anonymous tip that Richard Kelvin was being held against his will in a caravan in the Adelaide Foothills. Police ordered a helicopter search of the area but unfortunately were unable to find anything. Another anonymous call came weeks later alleging that two men named Doug and Mark were responsible for abducting Richard Kelvin, and had been driving in a 1963 EJ Holden sedan. In 1983, a family was looking for moss rocks in the Mount Crawford Forest where they found the body of Richard Kelvin. Police were called to the scene. Detective O'Brien was the one to notify Richard's family that his body had been found. Richard and the previous victims Alan Barnes and Mark Langley had been drugged before their deaths. This helped police link the crimes together. In 1982, a teenage hitchhiker named George had been picked up by a passing car. The older driver not only offered to pick up George but to show him a good time with some ladies. George accepted. The older man gave him alcohol and pills to ensure he would stay awake. After taking the pills, George's memory blurred, and moments later, he lost consciousness. The next day he awoke in pain, had been sexually assaulted and reported this to police. He consented to tests which revealed he had been drugged with Mandrax. The following year, police finally rediscovered George's story. That was when similar stories of young men being drugged and sexually assaulted began to make waves throughout Australia. Of the five men that fell prey to this killer, at least two had been drugged with Mandrax as had George. Unlike other drugs, Mandrax was regulated meaning police could search government records to find who had a prescription and whether or not they appeared on their suspect lists. When they finally got around to doing this, after the discovery of Richard Kelvin's body, one name emerged - Bevan Spencer von Einem. Reference: https://unresolved.me/the-family-murders Thanks for watching! Subscribe to Sinister Side for more videos like this!