GUILTY Australia - Barbara McCulkin, 34, & two daughters, Brisbane, 16 Jan 1974

Two properties in rural Queensland raided by cold case detectives

August 05, 2014


TWO rural properties in Warwick have been raided by detectives investigating one of Queensland’s most enduring murder mysteries.

Barbara McCulkin and her daughters Leanne and Vicki disappeared 40 years ago from their home in Highgate Hill.

When police arrived at the McCulkin home on Dorchester St, they found the cats locked inside, the lights on, a blouse in the sewing machine and a purse in the fridge.

Police now believe the 34-year-old and her daughters, aged 13 and 11, were murdered in a sexually motivated attack.

Cold case detectives began a full review in January, with a new focus on the sex attack-based motive.



http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...14071774|homepage|homepage&itmt=1407239776228

Aug 2014 Media Conferences

News Event

Tue Aug, 5 2014 1:52 PM

Police execute search warrants in crucial stage of 40 year McCulkin cold case

http://new.livestream.com/queenslandpolice/events/3246513

Police execute search warrants in crucial stage of 40 year McCulkin cold case

August 5, 2014 at 12:36 pm

State Crime Command Homicide Cold Case Unit detectives continuing their renewed investigation into the 1974 disappearance and suspected murder of Barbara McCulkin and her two daughters Leanne and Vicki, have today executed search warrants.

In January this year cold case detectives commenced a full review of the case with a new focus on the motive for the suspected murders.

Investigators joined with the Crime and Corruption Commission to pursue new avenues of evidence in this case with potential new witnesses.

Investigators received significant new evidence as a result of the appeal made by Barbara’s family with homicide detectives on the 40th anniversary of their disappearance in January this year.

“Detectives have interviewed potential witnesses across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria and have uncovered compelling new evidence surrounding events that took place on the day of their disappearance and subsequent murders,” Detective Superintendent Steve Holahan of the Homicide Group said.

“Based on the evidence collected, we now believe we have identified several motives for their murders. Barbara McCulkin may have had knowledge about serious crimes and the young McCulkin girls may have been sexually assaulted,” he said.

Investigations are continuing to focus on information and persons of interest identified in the original investigation and coroner’s inquest held in 1980.

Today cold case investigators assisted by regional detectives and Crime and Corruption Commission investigators executed search warrants on two rural properties in the Warwick area.

“We believe the search of these properties may help us corroborate crucial information gathered during this renewed investigation,” he said.

Barbara and her two daughters Leanne and Vicki disappeared from their Highgate Hill, Brisbane residence on the night of January 16, 1974. They have not been heard from since and their bodies have never been located.

A rewarded of $250,000 for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Barbara May McCulkin, Vicki Maree McCulkin and Barbara Leanne (known as Leanne) McCulkin is offered. In addition, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for these murders.

Any person who has information in relation to this matter should contact the Homicide Squad direct or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/201...nts-crucial-stage-40-year-mcculkin-cold-case/

http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/family-secrets-20101221-1946r.html

http://mobile.news.com.au/national/...true-crime-books/story-e6frfkp9-1226473608799

Was Barbara known to have associated with unsavory characters? Maybe I'm reading it wrong but they seem to be insinuating that.

..........

Another article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rdered-underworld-criminals-40-years-ago.html

Woww this came out of the blue!!...

Man reportedly arrested by police investigating cold case disappearance of Barbara McCulkin and daughters

August 06, 2014


A MAN has reportedly been arrested by police investigating a 40-year-old cold case in which a mother and her two daughters disappeared from a Brisbane home.

Barbara McCulkin, 34, and her two children, Vicki Maree, 13, and Barbara Leanne, 11, went missing in January 1974 from a Highgate Hill home. Their bodies have never been found.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...in-and-daughters/story-fnihsrf2-1227015853708

But Vince O'Dempsey is still on the run -

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...-cold-case-probe/story-fnihsrf2-1227016029081

"Police said O’Dempsey had gone to ground and there was no sign of him on Wednesday at the alpaca farm or the neighbouring house he had shared with the latest in a long line of women.

"Vincent O'Dempsey was one of two people charged with the murders of the McCulkins. The case was later dropped. Associates said he had “disappeared” about two months ago, without even telling *family."

McCulkin cold case murder investigation: Police raid a third Warwick property, drug charges laid

7 Aug 2014, 2:35pm

Detectives have raided a third property as part of a 40-year-old triple murder investigation in Queensland.

Solving the murders could 'turn history on its heard'

Speaking on 612 ABC Brisbane, Mr Condon said the latest police investigation should be "loudly applauded".

"Clearly they [police] have not taken this case lightly, they have vigorously reinvestigated this murder," he said.

"I spoke to individuals who were in Boggo Road [jail] in the late '70s and the murder was discussed

"If we get to the truth courtesy of this investigation it will turn history on its head in this state, there is no question about that.

"It might have happened 40 years ago ... the community needs to know that authorities are trying to heal a wound of that magnitude for us."

On Tuesday, Detective Steve Holahan said police were confident of solving the case

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-...erty-in-mcculkin-murder-investigation/5653852

Oh wow --- it always gives me such a boost to see an arrest made in these very old cases. Well done, to the police involved!

Quote from the article:
Mr Ryan said he believed Barbara was murdered before she could speak about her knowledge of the bombings of Fortitude Valley’s Torino and Whiskey Au Go Go night clubs.
Torino’s nightclub was attacked by arsonists on February 23, 1973, there were two arson attempts on the Chequers nightclubs in early 1973 and the Whiskey Au Go Go was firebombed on March 8, 1973.
The Whiskey Au Go Go fire killed 15 people, and was Australia's worst mass-killing until the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Barbara's estranged husband was a debt collector in Brisbane’s underworld of the 1970s.
James Richard Finch, 29, and John Andrew Stuart, 33, were convicted of the March 1973 Whiskey Au Go Go fire bombings in October 1973.
Barbara knew what happened and was murdered because she had threatened to talk, Mr Ryan said.


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...appearance-20140807-101oa3.html#ixzz39qVOVLFb

Whiskey Au Go Go fire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Au_Go_Go_fire

Whiskey Au Go Go - I haven't seen anything on that case for a very long time!

Her poor kids. I hope this arrest leads to a few more long-overdue ones as well.

Ausgirl said:

Whiskey Au Go Go - I haven't seen anything on that case for a very long time!

Her poor kids. I hope this arrest leads to a few more long-overdue ones as well.

Click to expand...

I think they must be very close to getting this wound up - Justice for Barbara and her girls!

Just to add:
“Barbara knew. She knew everything,” he said.
“She knew everything because so much of it was arranged in her house.”

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...appearance-20140807-101oa3.html#ixzz39qdwsiiR

McCulkin murders person of interest Vincent O’Dempsey arrested over drugs

August 09, 2014 7:42PM


KEY person of interest in the infamous 1974 murders of Barbara McCulkin and her daughters has been arrested over suspected drug offences.

Vincent O`Dempsey, 77, is speaking with police following a raid on a second property near Warwick

Police will allege they found evidence of a large scale drug operation at the Yangan property, including evidence that a cannabis crop had been growing there recently.

Two other men, believed to be associates of O`Dempsey, have also been taken into custody.

Police are yet to charge the men.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...ested-over-drugs/story-fnihsrf2-1227019092526

Vince is 75 years of age. Another case of the media getting the facts wrong. But good job that he's arrested. Let's see where this leads to now. It's amazing that he's been a free man for all of these years and suddenly they reopen a 40 year old cold case and bingo! He's obviously been in the drug scene for a long time in the Warwick district but nothing was done about it. I'll be watching this case closely.

A FIFTH police raid was executed on a property on Rocky Creek Rd at Emu Vale yesterday, which is in relation to a Warwick drug network.

The raid followed the search of a property near Yangan on Saturday by police from State Crime Command.

It is further alleged the searches were in relation to the 40-year-old cold case investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of Barbara McCulkin, 34, and her daughters Vicki and Leanne.

On Saturday, Vincent O'Dempsey was questioned by police, but was released on Sunday morning.

The 77-year-old is considered to be one of two people of interest in the cold case.

http://www.cqnews.com.au/news/another-day-another-raid-in-investigation/2346765/

SO no bodies, what was the original finding on the case?

"He said his client was charged along with Gary Dubois in 1980, but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence."

http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/queen...nt-odempsey-returns-home-20140810-102jds.html