Northern Territory town at a cultural crossroads
Twenty-five years after Peter Falconio’s murder in the Australian outback, police have released new images and reopened evidence boxes in a bid to locate his remains. Bradley Murdoch, who was convicted of the crime, died last year without naming the burial site. NT police say the investigation remains open.
Sharon Granites, a five-year-old girl, remains missing near Alice Springs as authorities continue a large-scale search. A recently released prisoner, Jefferson Lewis, is being sought for information after being in Sharon’s family home at the time of her disappearance. Police believe Sharon may still be alive as the investigation widens and community volunteers assist the effort.
The diphtheria outbreak in Australia has reached multiple states and territories, with the Northern Territory reporting hundreds of cases and at least one death. Health authorities warn vaccination rates are driving transmission, while Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected. Officials say cases are now decreasing after peaking earlier in 2026.
A final, withheld confession in the Falconio case remains elusive as Murdoch, now in palliative care, has refused to reveal Falconio’s whereabouts despite officers’ pleas and a renewed video appeal from the victim’s family.