September 21st 2024.
In a major development, a man has been taken into custody in Italy in connection with the 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in Melbourne, Australia. The 65-year-old individual, who holds citizenship in both Australia and Greece, was apprehended at a Rome airport on Thursday night.
The bodies of Armstrong and Bartlett, aged 27 and 28 respectively, were discovered in their home on Easey Street in Collingwood on January 13, 1977. Both women had been brutally stabbed multiple times. Interestingly, during the initial investigation, police had come across a teenager in the vicinity of Easey Street who was carrying a knife. However, he had fled to Greece before providing a DNA sample as part of the case's reinvestigation.
According to local laws, the suspect could only be charged within seven years of the crime. As a result, Australian authorities were unable to extradite him despite their diplomatic efforts. However, he was placed on an international watch list, which ultimately led to his arrest in Rome after 16 years.
Currently, the suspect remains in custody and is expected to be extradited to Victoria. The victims were last seen alive on January 10, 1977, and their 16-month-old baby was found unharmed in his cot when the police discovered the bodies.
Speaking on the matter, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton expressed his gratitude towards the homicide detectives who have been tirelessly working on the case for four decades. He also acknowledged the families of Armstrong and Bartlett, who have been grieving for over 40 years, and hopes that this arrest will provide them with the closure they deserve.
Patton further stated, "The Easey Street murders, as they came to be known, have always been a priority for Victoria Police. This was a heinous crime that shook our community to its core. The fact that it happened in the victims' own home, where they should have felt safe, is truly devastating. Though there is still more work to be done, this arrest is a significant breakthrough in the case."
In conclusion, the Chief Commissioner expressed his hope that this development will bring the families of the victims closer to the answers they have been seeking for so long. He acknowledged the strength and resilience of the Armstrong and Bartlett families and assured them of the police's continued efforts to bring justice for their loved ones.
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