Hunt for Irish man suspected of brutal murder of wife & 3 kids in Oz as cops ‘still hopeful' for answers decades later

The Irish Sun

27-07-2025

AUSTRALIAN cops are looking for the help of the Irish public in solving a 55-year-old quadruple murder cold case.
On July 2, 1970, the bodies of Therese Crawford and her three children Kathryn, James and Karen were found murdered in their car.
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Elmer Kyle Crawford is suspected of killing his wife and kids in Australia
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Cops believe he might be hiding out in Ireland
Her husband, Elmer Kyle Crawford, is the only suspect
He had emigrated to the country in his 20s, after leaving
In a bizarre case, the bodies were found after a family of tourists travelling the Great Ocean Road discovered the car 20m over a cliff at Loch Ard Gorge in Port Campbell.
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It hadn't yet dropped to the water but the front of the car was crushed, and a hose running from the exhaust was stuck inside the front window.
When emergency services were finally able to access the car, they found the four bodies inside, covered with blankets and a tarpaulin, with random items, including biscuits, strewn around.
They later discovered Therese, 35, was also pregnant with her fourth child.
Her husband Elmer was missing and it came about in the investigation that two weeks before they were killed, he and his wife had drafted new wills which left a large sum of money to him if his family died.
Police said Elmer had created an electrocution device, used a 49ft length of lead and alligator clips, which he attached to his wife's earlobs and fingers as she slept.
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He also electrocuted Kathryn and James and struck them with hammers, while the youngest, Karen, was beaten to death with a hammer, which was placed in the car alongside the bodies.
At the time of their deaths, Kathryn was 13, James was eight and Karen was six-years-old.
LAST SIGHTING
A 1971 inquest into the deaths stated Elmer was responsible for them and it was believed that he hoped to stage the scene as if Therese had murdered the kids and then used the fumes from the hose to take her own life in a murder-suicide.
Elmer was last seen at the family home in the afternoon on the day the bodies were discovered.
He has reportedly been spotted in Western Australia, New Zealand,
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But despite extensive searches, police have never been able to locate him.
In one instance in 1994, a former associate of Elmer was holidaying in Perth and is believed to have spoken to him. Elmer appeared not to recognise the associate and claimed to be on holidays from New Zealand.
He was born in Canada to an Irish woman, who left him to grow up with his grandparents in
Australian police have issued a digitised photo of what Elmer would look like now, which they are circulating around the globe amid the possibility that he may have fled as far afield as Ireland.
If he was still alive, Elmer would be around 95-years-old. Despite whether he is still alive or has passed away, investigators remain keen to find out where Elmer has been since his family's murder.
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'STILL HOPEFUL'
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Victoria Police Homicide Squad told
'The investigation into the deaths of Therese, Kathryn, James and Karen Crawford in July 1970 remains open.
'While nearly 55 years have passed since they were located deceased in the family vehicle at Loch Ard Gorge in Port Campbell, Homicide Squad detectives have not given up hope that the case may be solved one day.
"It is likely that he has changed his appearance in order to disguise his identity".
'Police also continue to seek information on the current whereabouts of Elmer Crawford, who is believed to be responsible for the death of his pregnant wife and three children.
'If he were still alive today, Elmer would be aged in his 90s.
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'Anyone with information in relation to the murders or the disappearance of Elmer Crawford is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by submitting a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au'.
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The bodies of Therese Crawford and her three children were found murdered in their car
Releasing the age enhanced photo of Elmer in 2008, police announced a $100,000 reward for information on his whereabouts.
At the time, Detective Sergeant Peter Harrington from the Victoria Police Homicide Squad said: "There have been a number of sightings of Elmer over the years, which leads us to believe that he is still alive and living interstate to avoid detection.
"It is likely that he has changed his appearance in order to disguise his identity. He previously worked as an unqualified electrician and even though would now be of retirement age, it is possible he still does a bit of this type of work on the side".
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He added: "This was a particularly horrific incident which effectively erased an entire family.
"Therese, Kathryn, James and Karen deserve some answers and we believe somebody out there has information that will bring those people responsible to justice".
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Therese was from Ipswich in Queensland and came from a large family.
She moved to Melbourne to pursue a nursing career and that's where she met Elmer.
The pair had a whirlwind romance and wed quickly before building their home.
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Locals told media after the deaths that Elmer was an unusual character and somewhat of a loner. He was an unqualified electrician and a cook on the side, but it's understood he amassed a decent sum of financial savings and some land in Queensland.
Author of Almost Perfect: The true story of the Crawford family murders, Greg Fogarty interviewed a number of neighbours and friends of the Crawford family.
He said friends of the Crawfords told him that despite being known as a quiet man, Elmer was known to have outbursts of anger, including one time he smashed up his car in a fit of rage when it was causing him trouble.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on
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The Loch Ard Gorge, Victoria, Australia, where the family's car was discovered
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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