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In the 1980s and early 1990s, a serial predator targeted young girls in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. He wore a mask and left little evidence behind. Investigators described him as calm and calculating, earning him the nickname, “Mr. Cruel.” More than three decades later, he has never been caught. But continued reporting by crime journalists and renewed hope from crime junkies have kept the case in the spotlight, fueling hope that his identity may one day be revealed.
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INFAMOUS: Mr. Cruel

In the 1980s and early 1990s, a serial predator targeted young girls in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. He wore a mask and left little evidence behind. Investigators described him as calm and calculating, earning him the nickname, “Mr. Cruel.” More than three decades later, he has never been caught. But continued reporting by crime journalists and renewed hope from crime junkies have kept the case in the spotlight, fueling hope that his identity may one day be revealed.

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Left to right: Sharon Wills, Nicola "Nicki" Lynas, and Karmein Chan

Left to right: Sharon Wills, Nicola “Nicki” Lynas, and Karmein Chan

Courtesy: Herald Sun

A composite sketch of Mr. Cruel released after the Lower Plenty attack

A composite sketch of Mr. Cruel released after the Lower Plenty attack

Credit: Victoria Police

Sharon Wills

Sharon Wills

Courtesy: Herald Sun

Sharon Wills

Sharon Wills

Courtesy: Herald Sun [10:30]

A sketch of Mr. Cruel’s bedroom

A sketch of Mr. Cruel’s bedroom

Credit: Victoria Police

A composite sketch of Mr. Cruel released after Sharon’s attack

A composite sketch of Mr. Cruel released after Sharon’s attack

Credit: Victoria Police [16:40]

Nicola "Nicki" Lynas

Nicola “Nicki” Lynas

Courtesy: Herald Sun

A composite sketch of Mr. Cruel released after Nicki’s attack

A composite sketch of Mr. Cruel released after Nicki’s attack

Credit: Victoria Police

A sketch of Mr. Cruel’s bathroom

A sketch of Mr. Cruel’s bathroom

Credit: Victoria Police

Karmein Chan

Karmein Chan

Courtesy: Herald Sun

The Chan family car

The Chan family car

Courtesy: Australian Broadcasting Company

The Chan parents

The Chan parents

Courtesy: Herald Sun

A letter to Karmein from Karmein’s sister, Karen

A letter to Karmein from Karmein’s sister, Karen

Credit: Victoria Police

A reward poster for information on Mr. Cruel

A reward poster for information on Mr. Cruel

Credit: Victoria Police

Lead Inspector David Sprague with a reward poster

Lead Inspector David Sprague with a reward poster

Courtesy: Herald Sun

Karmein Chan

Karmein Chan

Courtesy: Herald Sun

The front page headline of The Age on June 7, 1992

The front page headline of The Age on June 7, 1992

Courtesy: The Age

Joseph DeAngelo, The Golden State Killer

Joseph DeAngelo, The Golden State Killer

Credit: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Alfred “Alfie” Gay

Alfred “Alfie” Gay

Source: The Age

Norman “Normie” Leung Lee

Norman “Normie” Leung Lee

Source: Who is Mr Cruel?

The sketch of the man that witnesses saw filming Sharon’s yard before the attack

The sketch of the man that witnesses saw filming Sharon’s yard before the attack

Source: 60 Minutes Australia

Timeline:

August 22, 1987
August 22, 1987
4 a.m.

A masked man breaks into the Lower Plenty home of an 11- or 12-year-old girl, restrains her family and sexually assaults her for about two hours.

6 a.m.

The girl’s father calls police after the attacker leaves.

December 27, 1988
December 27, 1988
About 4:50 a.m.

A masked intruder breaks into Sharon Wills’ Ringwood home, restrains her parents and abducts 10-year-old Sharon.

December 28, 1988
December 28, 1988

Sharon is released near a high school about 18 hours later.

July 3, 1990
July 3, 1990
Late night

A masked man enters Nicola “Nicki” Lynas’ Canterbury home, restrains her sister and abducts 13-year-old Nicola, demanding a $25,000 ransom.

July 6, 1990
July 6, 1990
About 2 a.m.

Roughly 50 hours after her abduction, Nicola is released near an electrical substation in Kew.

April 13, 1991
April 13, 1991
Late night

A masked intruder abducts 13-year-old Karmein Chan from her Templestowe home while she is babysitting her sisters. Graffiti messages are left on the family car.

April 24, 1991
April 24, 1991

The FBI profile of the offender is dated and provided to investigators assisting in the case.

April 9, 1992
April 9, 1992

Karmein’s remains are found near an electrical substation days before the first anniversary of her disappearance. She was shot three times in the head.

1993
1993

Police publicly release illustrations of a bedroom and bathroom victims say belonged to Mr. Cruel.

2016
2016

Journalist Keith Moor publishes an investigation in the Herald Sun revealing details about “The Sierra Files,” a list of seven suspects not ruled out by police.

Lower Plenty, Victoria, Australia

The suburb where the first known Mr. Cruel attack occurred in August 1987.

Ringwood, Victoria, Australia

The suburb where Sharon Wills was abducted from her home in December 1988 and later released nearby.

Canterbury, Victoria, Australia

The suburb where Nicola “Nicki” Lynas was kidnapped from her home in July 1990.

Kew, Victoria, Australia

The area where Nicola Lynas was released near an electrical substation after about 50 hours in captivity.

Templestowe, Victoria, Australia

The suburb where Karmein Chan was abducted from her home in April 1991.

Tullamarine Airport, Victoria, Australia

The airport whose flight paths were analyzed after victims reported hearing planes overhead during captivity.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Melbourne

The private school attended by both Nicola Lynas and Karmein Chan.

Thomastown, Victoria, Australia

The suburb where Karmein Chan’s remains were discovered near an electrical substation in April 1992.

Please contact the authorities if you have any information:

Crime Stoppers in Australia

If you have any information about Mr. Cruel, you can submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers in Australia at crimestoppers.com.au. You can also contact us about anything mentioned in this episode at [email protected].

We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.

If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:

[email protected]

Episode Source Material

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