[Part 2 of 5]

On September 20 1992, New South Wales police officers gathered under the eucalyptus trees in the rugged depths of Belanglo State Forest, establishing the crime scene in what appeared to be a double homicide. The grave site was located a significant distance from the Hume Highway, branching off from the motorway down a bumpy, red dust road – bordered by 30-metre-high pine trees.

Once the kilometres of pine plantations reached an end, the terrain transformed into dense bushland, intersected by a series of narrow fire trails. This area was only accessible on foot or via vehicles designed specifically to go off-road, meaning the killer had gone to great lengths to take his victims off track, and likely owned or had access to a four-wheel drive.

The crime scene was a considerable distance from the main road, leading investigators to believe the killer was local to the area and had familiarity of Belanglo’s layout, including the secluded areas less travelled.

No possibilities were ruled out, with police considering many scenarios – including the killer had an accomplice – and that there were more bodies hidden in the forest…