Snowtown Murders

I have recently been reading court transcripts in relation to the Bodies in the barrels murders which occured between Snowtown and Adelaide between 1992 and 1999.
Most people outside of Australia would probably not of heard about one of Adelaides most gruesome murder cases, so, being the sick individual I am I have decided to conduct my own write up to remember the tragedy and to remind everyone of who died and what they went through within their last hours.

The accused being John Bunting, Robert Wagner, Mark Haydon and James Vlassakis.

From Left; Robert Wagner and John Bunting.
It is said whilst the guilty verdict was being read out in court Bunting merely sat with the defence lawyers and read a book, unphased.






Left to right; Robert Wagner, Mark Haydon and John Bunting.

Their first victim was Clinton Trezise, aged 22, who was found partly buried in a shallw grave at Lower Light back in August 1994, it was believed he was killed sometime in 1992, according to coroner findings Trezise was bashed over the head with a hammer, Bunting claiming he was a Pedophile.

The second victim was Ray Davis, 26, a pensioner living in Suzanne Allens backyard in a caravan. He was found dead in December 1994 after having been strangeled to death by Wagner and Elizabeth Harvey who was Vlassakis' mother, she died of cancer around the begining of 2001. Suzanne Allen was found to have died of natural causes, however her body was found contained within 11 plastic bags at the back of her garden in Salisbury North. She was 47.

The Snowtown Bank where the bodies were stored.




Painting by Llael Shannon
I would also like to apologise for not giving credit where it is due sooner, up until a few days ago
I had no idea as to who had painted this piece, and have been unable to sign in properly to
correct it. So, as Kevin Rudd would put it; "I am sorry".







Michael Gardiner, 19, was killed in August of 1997. Gadiner was a cross dresser and a homosexual. he was also strangeled and forced to stay standing until he died.

Barry Lane, 42, died October 1997. Lane was once Robert Wagners partner, Wagner went on to strangle Lane in his own house. Before he was brought to his end he had his toes squeezed with pliers. Afterwards they wrapped him up in carpet and placed him into a barrel.



The bank vault where the barrels containing the bodies were stored.






The Pit at Blackham Cresent where it is known bodies were to have been kept for short periods of time until more barrels were purchased.


Thomas Trevilyan, 18, died sometime in 1997 when he was found hanging from a tree in the Adelaide Hills. It was orginally assumed he had commited suicide, however it was found later he had helped in the murder of Barry Lane. Before his death he was supposedly sufering from hallucinations, worrying that the Grim Reaper was after him.


Gavin Porter, 29, April 1998. Was living with Vlassakis in 1998 at 26 Burdekin cresent, both were on the Methadone program. Vlassakis went to a drive in, upon his return Bunting ushered him out to the back shed where he showed Vlassakis Porters body on the shed floor. He had fallen asleep in his car whilst under the influence of drugs. Bunting and Wagner had then strangeled him and taken his bank card. Vlassakis accesed this account up until the begining of 1999, claiming Porters Centrelink benefits.

Troy Youde, 21, died September 1998 after Vlassakis confided in Bunting that Youde had sexually abused him years ago. While Youde was sleeping Bunting, Wagner and Vlassakis began hitting him with planks of wood and jack handles. They then dragged him into the bathroom where he was gagged, his toes crushed with pliers and then forced to record a message to his family telling them he was going away for a long time and for them not to worry.
He was then made to apologise to Vlassakis for the original assualt before he was strangled using a jack handle and rope. To be sure he was dead Robert Wagner then stood on his chest. They then also used his keycard to access his government benefits.

Also in September 1998 Fred Brooks was also murdered at the age of 18. Fred Brooks was the son of Jodie Elliot, who was supposedly engaged to John Bunting.
Brooks was handcuffed, beaten, his toes also squeezed with pliers, given electric shocks to his genitals, burnt with cigarettes before being strangeled.

Gary O'Dwyer, 29, November 1998. O'Dwyer was a mentally impared pensioner after a car crash. He was killed in somewhat the same fashion as Youde, gagged, beaten, shocked and whipped with his belt before being strangeled. The four of them were there having a few drinks with him at the time.

In November 1998 Mark Haydons wife, Elizabeth Haydon, 29, was also brutally murdered by Bunting and Wagner while Mr Haydon was out in Reynella with her sister Jodie Elliot. The two told Jodie Elliot her sister had run off to be with a "boyfriend".





Police removing the contents of the Bank

David Johnson, the final knowm victim, was killed in May 1999 at the age of 24.
Johnson was Vlassakis' stepbrother, whom he also claimed had sexually abused him at a young age. Johnson was lured to the Snowtown bank under the impression he was there to look at some stolen goods. He was the only victim to be murdered in the bank.

After each victim had been murdered they were cut into parts for easier storage within the 5 barrels.
When police entered the bank they found the following items scattered throughout the foyer, office and vault.

• coils of rope
• rolls of tape
• knives
• a bloodstained saw
• rubber gloves
• a machine for administering electric jolts

The vault door itself had been covered with a black tarp to try and trap the smell of decaying flesh. Hydrochloric acid was also used to help decompose the bodies faster. At one point at least two of the bodies were kept in a pit at the back of Haydons property at Blackham cresent, Smithfield.

That's my quick run down on the Snowtown murders.
Will go into more detail once my fingers stop hurting =P
Also, once I get down to Snowtown again I'll be taking some of my own photos of the bank - I want to get a good picture of the front doors.

The Victims of John Bunting, Robert Wagner, James Vlassakis and Mark Haydon.