Australian serial killer may be leaving clues via blog comments

Quote:

Serial killer may have blogged clues

By staff writers
June 05, 2007 02:54pm

*Mysterious figure leaving messages on crime blog
*Blog discusses unsolved Claremont murders in WA
*Comments described as "seriously spooky"

THE serial killer behind the 1994 Claremont murders may be leaving clues to his identity in a series of comments on Australia's leading crime blog which show an unusually detailed knowledge of the case.

The latest comment was today.

The man, who calls himself "Dr Phibes", started contributing detailed knowledge about the killings after journalist Gary Hughes started writing about the murders in his blog Gotcha in October last year.

Hughes said Dr Phibes had continued writing to Gotcha for the past eight months. He now calls himself Dr Phibes of The Valley and Dr Phibes of Herne Hill. Hughes confirmed that he was the original Dr Phibes by checking the email address he used to comment on the first Claremont blog.

Dr Phibes' first post referred to specific possible locations of the victims' bodies, saying it was "just a feeling" he had.

The case of the Claremont killings, involving the disappearance of three young women from the wealthy Perth suburb 11 years ago, is Australia's longest-running and most expensive murder investigation. Two of the girls were found murdered, but the body of the third has never been discovered.

Former police detective and lecturer at Perth's Centre for Forensic Science, Robin Napper, said Dr Phibes' comments were "seriously spooky".

"Whoever this blogger is, he has more than a passing interest in the subject and is teasing us with his knowledge of all three victims," he told crime author Debi Marshall in her latest book The Devil's Garden - The Claremont Serial Killings.

In another comment, Dr Phibes wrote: "I met Sarah McMahon in early nov 2000. She came to my place for a visit with 2 friends on a Friday.I saw her on the Sunday afterwards. She disappeared on the day after Melbourne Cup in Nov 2000. The Police flew their chopper (Polair 61) over my 1/2 acre place near the Swan Valley, as cause i had met her.They bugged my phone for a while."

Hughes said he had not tried to contact Dr Phibes because police reaction to Ms Marshall's book had been negative, with claims Ms Marshall was "cashing in" on one of Western Australia's greatest tragedies.

Hughes said Ms Marshall had exchanged emails with Dr Phibes, but wasn't sure if they had met.

"As you know, people use anonymity to comment on blogs," Hughes said.

"My blog attracts traffic from both sides - police, former detectives and known criminals."

Western Australia Police has been contacted for comment.

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If this guy isn't the killer, it's probably only a matter of time before a real serial killer begins taunting the police over the Internet. I suppose it wouldn't be as much fun if he right out claimed to be the killer. I like his apparent taste in movies, though.

Thoughts?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It will be the new-age equivalent of ol' Jack's taunts soon enough. They really should try and contact "Dr Phibes" though, he seems to know way too much.

The "real" Dr Phibes creeps me out ;__;

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Western Australia? Nobody lives there. Only RAB. It must be RAB. Tsk tsk.

How ya doing, buddy?

Damn, that shit sounds good. Gets me all excited about reading the latest Michael Connely books and all.
*Team Fedora scampers out*

I hope this story has an exciting conclusion.

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