Key Takeaways:
- Ivan Milat, a notorious serial killer, may have murdered more than 80 people, according to Jeremy Buckingham, the Legalise Cannabis party’s NSW MLC.
- Retired UK detective Hugh Hughes is convinced that Milat was responsible for the murder of Keren Rowland, his Australian wife’s cousin, who went missing in 1971.
- A parliamentary inquiry into unsolved murders and long-term missing cases from 1965 to 2010 will be established to investigate potential links to Milat and other serial killers.
- The inquiry will also examine "impediments in the justice system that impacted the delivery of justice" and will start hearings in mid-2026.
- The NSW police have confirmed that they will cooperate with the inquiry, but have stated that it would be inappropriate to provide further comment as the matter is now subject to the inquiry.
Introduction to the Case
The case of Keren Rowland, a 20-year-old woman who went missing in Canberra in 1971, has been a source of fascination and frustration for her family and investigators for decades. Rowland, who was five months pregnant at the time of her disappearance, was last seen on the night of the Royal Canberra Show, and her remains were discovered three months later in a pine plantation outside the city. The investigation into her murder has been ongoing for over 50 years, with many twists and turns, and has recently gained renewed attention due to the efforts of retired UK detective Hugh Hughes, who is convinced that Ivan Milat, a notorious serial killer, was responsible for Rowland’s murder.
The Investigation and Potential Links to Ivan Milat
Hughes, who has spent three decades investigating the case, believes that Milat, who was jailed for life in 1994 for the murder of seven backpackers, may have been responsible for Rowland’s murder. Milat’s modus operandi, which involved picking up hitchhikers and subjecting them to violent and brutal attacks, has been linked to several other unsolved murders and disappearances in the region. Hughes points to the fact that Milat was working at the Queanbeyan depot of the NSW Waste and Water board at the time of Rowland’s disappearance, and that he was identified as a suspect in 1971, although this is not on the public record. Furthermore, in April 1971, just a few weeks after Rowland’s disappearance, Milat was charged with abducting and raping an 18-year-old woman, Margaret Patterson, and her friend Greta, whom he had picked up as they were hitchhiking from the Sydney suburb of Liverpool. This incident, which occurred just a short time after Rowland’s disappearance, has led Hughes to believe that Milat may have been responsible for a string of violent attacks and murders in the region.
Jeremy Buckingham’s Crusade
Jeremy Buckingham, the Legalise Cannabis party’s NSW MLC, has been a driving force behind the push for a parliamentary inquiry into unsolved murders and long-term missing cases from 1965 to 2010. Buckingham believes that Milat may have murdered more than 80 people, and that the police may have been hindered in their investigation by "impediments in the justice system that impacted the delivery of justice". He points to the fact that Milat was able to evade capture for so long, despite being identified as a suspect in several cases, and that the police may have been slow to investigate leads and gather evidence. Buckingham’s obsession with Milat and unsolved cases began when he was looking at a missing person case in Bellingen, where he lives, and he has since become convinced that Milat may have been responsible for a string of violent attacks and murders in the region. The inquiry, which will start hearings in mid-2026, will examine the cases of several young women and men who went missing or were murdered in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and will investigate potential links to Milat and other serial killers.
The Inquiry and Its Potential Impact
The parliamentary inquiry, which will be established to investigate potential links to Milat and other serial killers, will also examine the police’s handling of the cases and whether they were adequately investigated. The inquiry will be a significant step towards providing closure for the families of the victims and will help to shed light on the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The NSW police have confirmed that they will cooperate with the inquiry, and the police minister, Yasmin Catley, has stated that "police continue to review every unsolved case, relentlessly pursuing justice for victims and their families". The inquiry will also examine the role of the police in investigating the cases and whether they were hindered by any "impediments in the justice system". The inquiry’s findings will be crucial in providing a better understanding of the events surrounding the murders and disappearances, and will help to bring closure to the families of the victims.
Conclusion
The case of Keren Rowland and the potential links to Ivan Milat are a sobering reminder of the brutal and violent nature of serial killers and the importance of thorough and diligent investigations. The parliamentary inquiry into unsolved murders and long-term missing cases from 1965 to 2010 will be a significant step towards providing closure for the families of the victims and will help to shed light on the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The inquiry’s findings will be crucial in providing a better understanding of the events surrounding the murders and disappearances, and will help to bring closure to the families of the victims. As the inquiry begins its work, it is hoped that it will bring justice to the victims and their families, and will help to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.