Former prison officer, 63, is charged over the ‘real life Wolf Creek’ murders of three travellers who were killed while on the trip of a lifetime through the Outback in 1978
- A 63-year-old man has been charged with the 1978 Spear Creek triple murder
- Bruce John Preston is a former prison guard from Goulburn in New South Wales
- Karen Edwards, Timothy Thomson and Gordon Twaddle were killed 40 years ago
A man has been charged with the 1978 Queensland outback murders of Karen Edwards, Timothy Thomson and Gordon Twaddle.
The 63-year-old, whom the Courier Mail reported is former prison officer Bruce John Preston from Goulburn, has been charged with three counts of murder.
The charges come more than 40 years after the first of three bodies was found in remote Queensland bushland near Mount Isa.
The cold case was likened to a ‘real-life Wolf Creek’, the story of three road-trippers in remote Australia who are plunged into danger.
Karen Edwards, Gordon Twaddle and Timothy Thomson (left to right) were found dead from gunshot wounds on October 24, 1978
Former prison officer Bruce John Preston, 63, is from Goulburn and has been charged with three counts of murder
The three had last been seen on the morning of October 5 following their arrival in Mt Isa as part of a motorcycle journey from Alice Springs to Melbourne.
Tim 31, and Gordon, 21 were family friends from New Zealand with a passion for motorcycles.
Karen, 23, was Tim’s girlfriend and the trio was on the adventure of a lifetime trekking across the outback.
Once they reached Cairns, the trio planned to head south to Melbourne for Christmas with family.
They never made it.
The trio were last seen at Moondurra (moondarra) Caravan Park, their bodies were found 19 days later in bushland near Spear Creek, 12 km north of Mount Isa
Detective Kentwell said Preston was ‘surprised’ by the arrest, but would not comment on a motive other than that he was known to the victims before October 5
After their last sighting in the Moondurra (moondarra) Caravan Park, their bodies were found 19 days later in bushland near Spear Creek, 12 km north of Mount Isa.
All three died from gunshot wounds.
Preston had been a person of interest, charged with stealing Tim’s motorcycle in 1978 for which he was convicted and fined $300.
Preston had been a person of interest, charged with stealing Tim’s motorcycle in 1978 for which he was convicted and fined $300
The trio were travelling with Tim’s dog Tristie (pictured). They lost Tristie and found him at Mount Isa dump 18 days before their bodies were found
Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said the families of the victims had been told of the charges and were ‘relieved’ by the outcome.
‘We believe that there are still witnesses out there who hold vital information and we appeal for those persons to come forward,’ she said.
Detective Kentwell said the accused was ‘surprised’ by the arrest, but would not comment on a motive other than that he was known to the victims before October 5.
Preston using a joker filter on a Facebook profile picture. He is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with three counts of murder
Det Kentwell said it felt ‘pretty good’ to make an arrest four decades after the crime.
‘It’s a good feeling to provide some closure to these families after such a long time.’
The man is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with three counts of murder.