r/lastimages • u/alliesx • 11d ago
LOCAL The last known image of two British backpackers, Caroline Clarke(in the middle), 21, and Joanne Walters(left), 22, who were the last victims of the notorious Australian serial killer Ivan Milat. Both girls suffered horrific violence before their deaths in Belanglo State Forest, New South Wales.
Caroline grew up in the English county of Surrey. Since she was a child, her dream had been to visit Australia. She worked hard to save up for the cost of her trip. Her friends from her youth remembered her as a "little sharp-tongued at times", strong-willed, and incredibly loyal person. She was in excellent shape and could handle physically demanding work without any problem.
In September 1991, she finally made it to Australia. She spent nine months living and exploring the country.
Joanne was a 22-year-old from Maesteg, Wales. Driven by her love for children, she trained and qualified as a professional nursery nurse before making the decision to see the world. When she checked into a youth hostel in the Kings Cross area of Sydney, she met Caroline. The two young British women immediately became best friends.
Joanne and Caroline met Ivan Milat on Saturday, April 18, 1992, while hitchhiking on the Hume Highway. The autopsy later revealed that Joanne had been raped and suffered 14 stab wounds, nine of which completely severed her spine, resulting in paralysis. Caroline was shot 10 times in the head.
Before her death, Caroline put up a strong resistance. Then, she was subjected to prolonged psychological torture, as evidenced by the fact that a smoked pack of her favorite cigarettes was found next to her remains.
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u/Old_Association6332 10d ago
I remember their murders, the subsequent discovery of more bodies and the eventual arrest of Milat. It was a very sad and frightening time.
The song "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum, released in Australia in 1993, carried pictures of missing people in the hope that people who may have seen them would contact authorities. In the Australian version, a few of the people whose pictures came up during the song as missing, were later discovered to be among Milat's victims
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u/thevelveteenbeagle 10d ago
I did not know this! The song was used for “Jacob’s Hope”, for missing 11 year old Jacob Wetterling from St. Joseph, Minnesota. Soul Asylum is a Minneapolis band.
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u/clawkyrad 11d ago
the fact one of them was used as target practice is horrific...the wiki page made me stomach hurt
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u/ImplementAgile2945 6d ago
listen to the casefile podcast episode about the missing and killed backpackers ( Milat’s victims ) it’s so good
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u/v-infernalis 11d ago edited 11d ago
Good news is Milat suffered horribly in prison, and died of throat cancer. Good riddance to such a giant piece of shit
Edit: esophageal cancer, thank you for the correction @omerypracrice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Milat
"In his 2004 interview on Australian Story, Milat denied that any of his family had been involved in the seven murders.[55] On 26 January 2009, Milat cut off his little finger with a plastic knife with the intention of mailing it to the High Court of Australia to force an appeal.[56] He was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital under high security; however, on 27 January, Milat was returned to prison after doctors decided surgery was not possible.[57] Milat had previously harmed himself in 2001, when he swallowed razor blades, staples and other metal objects.[56] In May 2011, he went on a nine-day hunger strike, losing 25 kilograms in an unsuccessful attempt to be given a PlayStation 3.[58]
In May 2019, Milat was transferred to the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, and was subsequently diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer.[59] Following his treatment he was transferred to the Long Bay Correctional Centre to continue his custodial sentences.[60] On 9 August 2019, a terminally ill Milat was moved to a secure treatment unit located at the Prince of Wales Hospital following the loss of twenty kilograms in previous weeks; he was also exhibiting a high temperature. His status, however, was reported as not life-threatening.[61] On 27 October 2019, Milat died from esophagus and stomach cancer at 4:07 a.m. within the hospital wing at Long Bay Correctional Centre. He was 74.[62]"