Hitchhiking Leads to Unimaginable Horror in the Australian Outback
The Ride Begins
In the summer of 1990, Paul stood on the Hume Highway in Australia, hoping for adventure. Hitchhiking was common, despite whispers of missing travelers.
Just as Paul’s patience waned, Bill, a rugged-looking man with a warm smile, offered a ride.
Paul didn’t know that the man offering a lift was untrustworthy. Beneath his kindness lurked a criminal whose deeds would soon shake Australia, revealing heinous crimes that Paul couldn’t have imagined.
Seeking Adventure
In 1989, 24-year-old Paul Onions left his air-conditioning repair job seeking adventure. Yearning for new experiences, he was excited to explore Australia’s wild landscapes, unaware of the dark path ahead.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Paul felt relief. He had waited a short while when Bill, a rugged man with kind eyes, approached him.
“Need a lift?” Bill asked, and Paul nodded, grateful. They walked to Bill’s truck, camaraderie forming as they set off into Australia.
Paul felt this was the beginning of an adventure beyond the open road.
Off to Australia
In January 1990, Paul left Birmingham, England, with only a backpack. He flew to Sydney, Australia, excited for adventure.
After settling in a hostel and enjoying the city, he learned of a fruit-picking job in Mildura, 625 miles west. It was a perfect chance to explore more, and Paul eagerly took it.
After arriving at Sydney’s train station, Paul headed to the outskirts, anticipating the adventure ahead.
He planned to hitchhike the Hume Highway, trusting the open road for new experiences.
On the sunlit pavement, he felt the thrill of the unknown. With the sound of waves and scent of eucalyptus, he stopped by a store for a drink before hitchhiking. An unexpected stranger then appeared.
A Ride with Bill
Hitchhiking in Australia became a rite of passage for adventurous backpackers, traveling the landscapes with their thumbs and a sense of freedom. Despite safety concerns and reports of missing travelers between 1978 and 1991, it was common among the daring.
Paul, feeling the warmth of the sun, stopped at a roadside store to quench his thirst. There he met Bill, whose invitation for a ride was a relief.
Paul accepted the offer, grateful for the company and the new journey as they headed to Bill’s truck.
Relieved, Paul followed Bill to the rugged pickup truck parked nearby. The sun gleamed off its worn exterior, a testament to countless miles traveled across Australian roads.
Anticipation bubbled within Paul; this ride felt like the start of a new adventure.
As they climbed into the truck, the engine roared to life, and Paul settled into the passenger seat, grateful to be on the road.
Little did he know, the journey ahead held surprises that would change everything.
Heading Options:
Uncomfortable Conversations
Uneasy Exchanges
Unwelcome Questions
As Paul and Bill drove, the atmosphere was relaxed with banter. Paul sighed with relief.
The mood shifted when Bill veered into a tirade about foreigners, his words prejudiced.
Paul’s heart raced as he tried to divert the conversation, feeling uneasy.
The more Bill questioned Paul’s future plans, military history, and whereabouts, the more discomfort Paul felt, sensing something darker beneath Bill’s demeanor.
As they settled into Bill’s truck, Paul felt Bill was probing him with questions that seemed more like an interrogation than casual conversation.
Paul shifted in his seat, trying to decipher Bill’s motives amidst the hum of the engine and passing landscape.
He wondered if the unease overshadowed the good fortune of finding company.
A Suspicious Detour
After an hour of driving in Australia, Bill pulled over, mentioning they were losing radio signals and needed cassette tapes from under the seat.
Paul was puzzled, noticing tapes already in the console. Watching Bill rummage under the seat, he felt something was amiss and wondered about Bill’s thoughts.
As they drove along the dusty road, an unsettling feeling crept over Paul, prompting him to leap from the truck.
Bill, surprised, turned to him. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Paul hesitated, then reluctantly climbed back into his seat, uncertain if his gut was warning him.
Face-Off in Fear
Bill returned to the truck briefly, then emerged with a handgun, making Paul’s heart race.
Bill leveled the weapon, demanding Paul’s belongings. A rope in Bill’s other hand intensified Paul’s dread, signaling a dark turn.
Paul’s heart raced as tension built in the truck cab. Uneasy chatter with Bill had turned sinister, and uncertainty weighed on him.
He couldn’t let Bill tie him up. With adrenaline, he unfastened his seatbelt, opened the truck door, and bolted toward the highway, waving his arms to alert passing cars and escape the ominous situation.
Into the Van
Bill aimed at Paul and missed. They clashed in the road, ignoring swerving drivers.
Bill seemed to gain control, but Paul fought back desperately. Fueled by adrenaline, they turned the quiet roadside into a battleground.
Paul broke free from Bill’s grasp, adrenaline propelling him forward.
He spotted an approaching van driven by Joanne with her sister and five children inside.
He sprinted toward them, waving his arms. Joanne slammed on the brakes.
Paul dove into the van, pleading with her to drive away. The air was thick with tension, unaware his life was about to change unpredictably.
Dismissed at the Station
As the van sped along the road, Paul’s heart sank seeing Bill with a grin. They headed to Bowral and, upon arrival, went to the police station.
Paul was frustrated by the officer’s disinterest as he noted only the barest details.
“Without a last name or a license plate number,” the officer muttered, “there’s not much we can do.”
Paul’s frustration grew as the officer trivialized their ordeal.
Paul stood by the roadside, watching Bill climb into his truck with indifference.
Paul had hoped for a quick getaway but was caught between anticipation and frustration. With cars passing by, he felt relief and impatience as he prepared for what was to come.
Return to Reality
Paul hurried to the British Embassy to get a new passport, cutting his trip short to return to Birmingham.
Nearly three years passed for Paul until a headline disrupted his routine in late 1992.
He read about the discovery of two backpackers’ bodies in Belanglo State Forest, near where his own encounter had occurred. Those words reminded him of his past fears.
The Dark Truth
The chilling discovery sent shockwaves through the community, as the identities of the victims were revealed to be Caroline, just 21, and Joanne, 22—young British backpackers whose dreams of adventure had taken a devastating turn. Paul was left horrified by the grisly details surrounding their deaths; the brutality that had befallen Joanne was too grim to fathom, with 35 puncture wounds rendering her helpless during the horrific ordeal. Caroline’s fate was equally nightmarish, having been blindfolded and subjected to a twisted game of target practice before meeting her tragic end. The thought of such violence against two innocent travelers weighed heavily on his mind as he processed the loss of lives that were filled with promise, now extinguished far too soon.
As Paul read, anxiety rose realizing the discovery was near Bowral, where he escaped from Bill.
Memories of that encounter returned, the past pressing down, a shadow lingering.
He thought he was free, but now his choices threatened to catch up. The thrill of adventure dimmed, unease lurking beneath the surface.
Connecting the Dots
The discovery of more bodies in the forest shook the community, prompting a task force investigation.
By November 1993, authorities announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Joanne Berry, who had saved Paul from a perilous encounter years earlier, contacted the police to share her account from their hitchhiking experience in 1990.
Paul’s tale caught the eye of the New South Wales police after years of silence.
His journey was about to reveal mystery and concern that had gone unnoticed.
In a nation used to the risks of hitchhiking, with missing travelers between 1978 and 1991, Paul’s experience reminded of lurking dangers.
His encounter with a stranger would unearth dark truths that needed facing.
Key Evidence Revealed
In the UK, Paul quickly contacted the task force for his investigation.
The investigators requested his 1990 report from the Bowral Police Department, but found no record.
Disappointed, Paul learned that the officer who took his statement was still active and willing to share her notebook with the original notes.
Paul’s recollection of his assailant resembling cricketer Dennis Lillee provided a breakthrough in the investigation.
Authorities narrowed their search, focusing on the name Ivan Milat, hinting at a darker reality beneath the tranquil landscape.
The Dark Past of Ivan Milat
Ivan Milat, born in 1945, had a reputation for criminal activities, primarily burglary. He once escaped conviction for an attempted assault on two travelers in 1971.
Investigations suggested that his work along the Hume Highway and hunting in Belanglo State Forest were crucial to a mystery soon to grip the nation.
Though his brothers had brushes with the law, Ivan became the prime suspect in troubling attacks.
In February 1994, police began to monitor his movements, convinced he fit a pattern.
Shadows of suspicion loomed, and authorities intensified their scrutiny, hoping to link Ivan to the unsettling events affecting hitchhiking travelers in Australia.
Returning to Australia
In May 1994, after Paul identified Ivan from photographs, he returned to Australia to assist with the investigation.
His identification led to Ivan’s arrest for robbery and weapons possession.
A search of Ivan’s property revealed belongings of the murdered backpackers and bullets matching the crime scenes, deeply impacting the case.
Amid the interrogations, Ivan remained resolute, refusing to confess.
The detectives leaned in, but Ivan’s silence was impenetrable.
Each moment stretched on as he grasped his secrets, convinced breaking under pressure would lead to despair. It was better to endure than to give them a confession.
Life Behind Bars
Ivan Milat was charged with the murders of seven backpackers. After an 18-week trial in 1996, he received seven life sentences.
Despite claiming innocence, he attempted an escape involving self-harm.
His story is a reminder of the dangers on Australia’s roads.
In 2019, Ivan succumbed to cancer, taking with him the secret of his past.
Despite accusations, he never publicly confessed to the murders.
Before his death, he was rumored to have confessed to his mother. His passing left a cloud of mystery.
The Milat Shadow
In 2010, Matthew Milat, Ivan’s great-nephew, was convicted for an assault on a friend in Belanglo State Forest. Behind bars, Matthew boasted, “That’s what Milats do,” echoing the legacy of his infamous kin. His actions were a reminder that the cycle of violence persisted within the family.
The crimes committed by the Milat family cast a shadow over Australia, intertwining their name with notorious serial murders. Their deeds remind of the dangers during an era when hitchhiking was considered a carefree adventure. Backpackers on the highways reconsidered their choices, turning a simple act of trust into a calculated risk.
