THE unsolved murder of a Mount Gambier man seven years ago has now been linked to two separate murders in Adelaide.
Stephen Newton was found dead in his Mount Gambier home in 2011 – his body already decomposing – and an autopsy revealed he had died from injuries sustained during an assault.
His house had been ransacked and a range of items including a 50-inch plasma television, a computer game console, DVDs, games, money and clothes were stolen.
While most of the items were later recovered by police and an arrest was made in 2012 in relation to the theft, Mr Newton’s death has remained a mystery.
A forensic link between three unsolved murders has been detailed by the head of the Major Crime Investigation Branch who revealed a secret Task Force had been reviewing the cases since January.
Three separate investigations into the murders of Beverley Hanley, Phyllis Harrison and Mr Newton have been the subject of review and further inquiries by Task Force Resolute, established after police received fresh forensic evidence.
Task Force Resolute is made up of seven detectives assisted by an intelligence officer and forensic experts.
The involvement of a single suspect in all three cases was considered previously and with forensic evidence and new information coming to light investigators are now confident the same suspect is involved in all three deaths.
“We now have proof that the same offender is responsible for all three deaths,” Detective Superintendent Des Bray, the officer in charge of Major Crime, said.
“There has been speculation in the past that the same offender was involved, but now I can say we have proof and we believe theft was the motive in all three matters.”
Detective Superintendent Bray said police were now urging those with information related to these matters to come forward and speak with police.
“We know that there are people who have provided incorrect or incomplete statements and I would urge them to come forward and speak with us,” he said.
“We know that they may be feeling vulnerable, but we can help them.”
71-year-old Phyllis Harrison was found dead in her home in Elizabeth South on in 1998.
She had suffered multiple stab wounds and while her house had also been ransacked, it was unclear what was stolen.
The body of 64-year-old Beverley Hanley was found at her home address in Elizabeth North in 2010 and she is believed to have been killed earlier that day.
She had suffered severe head injuries, her house ransacked and her handbag stolen.
The decomposing body of 55-year-old Stephen Newton was found in his home on November 4 2011.
Police believe it is more likely he was killed sometime between September 23 and 29.
A reward is being sought in relation to the death of Mr Newton, while $200,000 is available in relation to the murders of both Mrs Harrison and Mrs Hanley where information leading to a conviction is provided.
