Evil killer Derek Percy could be taking the secrets of some of Australia's most notorious child murders with him to the grave.
Percy, Victoria's longest serving prisoner, died in a secure ward in a Melbourne hospital from cancer on Wednesday, while still a suspect in 1960's child murders in four states, including the Wanda Beach murders and the disappearance of the Beaumont children in Adelaide.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said police were very disappointed the killer didn't shed new light on the cases.
"Percy either couldn't or wouldn't share information that we think may well have put some issues to rest," he said.
The 64-year-old was quizzed by police about what he knew about more than half a dozen unsolved cases up until his death, but remained tight lipped.
Families of those believed to have been killed by Percy were relieved at his death, even though it means they will not get answers about their loved ones.
"There's a relief in the fact that he's not there anymore and the emotional pain of him is not so prevalent," said Gary Stilwell, whose seven-year-old sister Linda disappeared from St Kilda beach in Melbourne in 1968.
Percy is the prime suspect in Linda's death and admitted being in the area at the same time she went missing.
Last weekend, he denied to investigators any involvement in her death, despite earlier saying he couldn't remember.
"I would've thought at the end of his life he could've found it in his heart to actually give relief to us and to my mother in regards to Linda," Mr Stilwell said.
"I don't think anybody believes that he didn't do it."
Percy abducted and murdered 12-year-old Yvonne Tuohy southeast of Melbourne in 1969 and had been detained on insanity grounds since.
He was believed to be holidaying near Wanda when 15-year-olds Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt were killed in 1965 and admitted he was in Adelaide at the time the three Beaumont children disappeared from Glenelg beach in 1966.
When asked during a 1969 police interview if he killed the Beaumonts, he said: "I could have killed them, I don't remember a thing."
He also told police he drove past the spot on the day three-year-old Simon Brook disappeared from his Glebe home in Sydney in 1968 and was in Canberra when six-year-old Alan Redston went missing. Both boys' bodies were found nearby the day after they disappeared.
Simon's father Donald Brook said Percy will no longer be able to harm other children.
In 2005, the then NSW state coroner recommended that Percy be charged over Simon's murder, but the charge did not proceed.
Professor Brook said he was not surprised Percy had not revealed more to investigators.
"I was not expecting him to, no, because he hasn't done so for more than 40 years," he said.
"It's a relief to know there's now no danger of him killing another child."
Crime Victims Support Association president Noel McNamara said Percy was a cunning, evil person and it was a shame he died with so many families not knowing what happened to their children.
"We're glad he's gone - it's probably an understatement, because he's gone to the devil," Mr McNamara said.
"We just hope he rots in hell."
Share
