EP40: Murphy's Creek
Lorraine Wilson & Wendy Evans Murders
In 1974, two Australian nursing students, Lorraine Wilson, and Wendy Evans, decided to take some time off from their work and studies to travel around Australia. Unfortunately for the young women, Lorraine’s car broke down in the middle of their vacation and the repair shop said would take over a week to fix it. Undeterred, the two decided to hitchhike to Brisbane to spend a week with Lorraine’s sister. As the days passed Lorraine began to grow more concerned that her car wouldn’t be fixed in time for both women to return to work on October 10, 1974. On October 6, Lorraine and Wendy couldn’t wait any longer for Lorraine’s car to be done so the two set off on foot, hoping to hitchhike their way back home. They never made it. Lorraine’s aunt reported them missing on October 12, 1974, but it would take almost 40 years to discover the truth of what happened to these women. Although there were at least a dozen bystanders that witnessed the crime and over 10 men who participated in the brutal rapes of the women, fear coupled with mistakes made by authorities, allowed the perpetrators to get away with murder and escape justice. The Night of Lorraine Wilson & Wendy Evans Abduction
On October 6, 1974, police officer Ian Hamilton and his partner received a call from the caretakers of a local youth camp. The caretakers reported hearing the screams of a woman, later identified as 20-year-old Lorraine Wilson, for at least 20 minutes near the camp. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make out the directions of where the sounds were coming from. At the time, no one knew the distress Lorraine Wilson and Wendy Evans were in.
Immediately, the two officers drove to the camp located off of Toowoomba Range Road, in Queensland Australia.
Shortly after the call, the two officers arrived at the camp. Together, the caretakers and police walked about 80 meters away from the camp, further up the range.
Initially, neither officer heard anything. However, after a few minutes of walking, they both heard the screams. Officer Hamilton described the sounds as “the most terrifying and horrendous screams” he had ever heard – “blood-curdling.” Little did they know, Lorraine Wilson miraculously escaped the clutches of her captors. Because of the wind, the screams sounded distorted and no one could tell where they originated from.
After searching for 40 minutes, the two police officers headed back to the patrol car. They decided to drive around the area instead. While driving, they shined lights outside the vehicle hoping to find the screaming female. By midnight, they gave up entirely and headed back to the station. At the station, they informed the next shift patrol about the screams.
Lorraine Wilson & Wendy Evans Are Reported Missing
In the following days, no one was reported missing and the terrifying female screams were all but forgotten. Six days later, Lorraine’s aunt reported to police that Lorraine and her friend, 18-year-old friend Wendy Evans were missing.
What Happened to Lorraine Wilson & Wendy Evans?
Two years after their initial disappearance, Lorraine and Wendy’s skeletal remains were found at Murphys Creek. Unfortunately, it took almost forty years for the world to know what happened to Lorraine and Wendy. They were brutalized by a “putrid pool of miscreants” in a gang-bang. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about the terrible fate of the two young nurses from Sydney Australia.
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Podcast Episode Source: The Ricochet of Echoes by Lorraine Wilson’s brother, Eric Wilson
