Decades-Old Melbourne Cold Case Cracked: Suspect Arrested At Rome Airport

In a major development, a 65-year-old Greek-Australian dual citizen has been arrested in Italy in connection with the brutal 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett. The two women were found dead in their Melbourne home on Easey Street, Collingwood, a case that has remained unsolved for nearly five decades.

The suspect was detained at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome on Thursday evening, Australian time. Victoria Police have confirmed they will seek to extradite the man to Melbourne, where he faces charges for the murders.

Armstrong, 27, and Bartlett, 28, were killed in January 1977, their bodies discovered three days later in their rented Collingwood terrace home. Armstrong’s 16-month-old son was found distressed but unharmed in a separate room. Both women had been stabbed multiple times, in what police described as a “gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide.”

The Easey Street murders were one of Melbourne’s most infamous cold cases, and the subject of numerous books and podcasts. In 2017, authorities offered a $1 million reward for any new information that could lead to an arrest.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton described the arrest as a significant breakthrough, crediting years of tireless investigation. “For over 47 years, detectives from the homicide squad have worked relentlessly to determine who was responsible for the deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett,” Patton said. He acknowledged the toll the case has taken on the victims’ families, who have grieved for over four decades.

Due to Greece’s 20-year statute of limitations on murder charges, the suspect could not be prosecuted while he was living there. However, an Interpol red notice led to his capture in Italy.

The extradition process is expected to take at least a month, depending on Italian legal proceedings. Both families of the victims expressed their deep gratitude for the ongoing efforts of Victoria Police, saying, “We will be forever grateful for the support and understanding shown to us over the past 47 years.”

Though the investigation continues, the arrest represents a long-awaited step towards justice for the victims and their families.