Bevan Spencer von Einem, a notorious convicted child murderer, passed away at the age of 79 in Yatala Labour Prison early this morning. His death follows a struggle with lung cancer that had progressively worsened.
Von Einem was serving a life sentence for the brutal 1983 abduction and murder of 15-year-old Richard Kelvin. The teenager endured five harrowing weeks of torture before his body was discovered in the foothills of Adelaide.
The news of von Einem’s death has elicited a range of responses from those connected to his victims.
Karl Brooks, who was Richard Kelvin’s closest friend, expressed his relief, stating, “I’d love to say good riddance to the grub. Yeah, good riddance you grub, you’re where you belong and I hope it’s a horrible place.”
Robyn Barnes, whose brother Alan Barnes is believed to be another victim of the infamous “Family Murders,” remarked, “You’re about to reap what you sow … karma is a bitch.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas also commented, acknowledging the severe impact of von Einem’s crimes on the community.
“Von Einem is probably one of the most notorious criminals that we’ve ever seen in the history of our nation, an appalling human being who committed some of the most heinous acts that we’ve ever seen in our state’s history,” he said.
Von Einem was long suspected of involvement in a network known as “The Family”, believed to be responsible for the murders of other young men in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Alan Barnes, Peter Stogneff, Neil Muir, and Mark Langley are widely believed to have been victims of the group. Despite extensive investigations, no one else has ever been charged in connection with these murders.
The families of the victims express ongoing frustration that von Einem never revealed any information about the alleged “Family” network.
“Angry he’s taken those secrets to the grave, even though I knew he wouldn’t talk, I knew he wouldn’t talk,” Robyn Barnes said.
“Our family’s been ripped to pieces and scattered in the winds,” Alan Barnes’ brother John said.
Despite von Einem’s death, the investigation into “The Family Murders” remains active.
“Now my mission is just to fight for the truth … you know, hopefully get some justice, get some closure, for all the victims left behind by this,” Brooks said.
