OUTBACK TERROR: THE FALCONIO MURDER

PREMIERING TUESDAY, JULY 14, AT 8:30PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

Witness one of Australia’s most infamous cold cases transform into a live investigation when Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder premieres Tuesday, July 14, at 8.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Twenty-five years after the shocking murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio and the ambush of his girlfriend Joanne Lees on a remote stretch of highway in the Northern Territory, a haunting mystery remains.

In this gripping documentary, world-renowned geoforensic specialist, Dr Mark Harrison MBE, and former FBI behavioural profiler, Kathy Canning-Mello, combine geoforensics, environmental analysis and behavioural science in the hope of answering the lingering question: where is Peter?

Battling the unforgiving terrain of the vast Australian Outback, the pair re-examine the evidence and get inside the mind of the murderer, Bradley John Murdoch, to pinpoint the most likely location of Peter’s body.

Narrated by Australian actress Marta Dusseldorp, Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder features accounts from those who were on the frontlines of the case, including Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson, who took Joanne Lees’ initial statement on the night of the crime, and retired Detective Geoff Carson, who helped to bring Murdoch to justice.

The series also features journalist Meni Caroutas, who was on the ground in Alice Springs as the global media storm unfolded, and an exclusive interview with Libby Andrew, the former police officer who was Joanne’s chaperone in the aftermath of the 2001 murder.

Dr Mark Harrison MBE said: 

“This isn’t simply a documentary looking back at an infamous crime. It’s an active investigation using enhanced behavioural and geoforensic techniques that have evolved dramatically over the past two decades, with success in locating victims.”

Kathy Canning-Mello said: 

“As a behavioural profiler, my role is to understand the decisions an offender makes before, during and after a crime. Those choices leave patterns, and patterns leave clues. By re-examining this case with fresh eyes and modern investigative methods, we hope to bring new understanding to one of Australia’s most enduring mysteries.”

Beyond revealing the advancements in science and technology, the documentary also revisits the media scrutiny of Joanne Lees, and challenges aspects of the narrative that have endured for decades to reveal her extraordinary courage and resilience.

Outback Terror: The Falconio Murder is produced by Prospero Productions for the 9Network and UKTV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia, in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest. International sales by Sphere Abacus.

OUTBACK TERROR: THE FALCONIO MURDER

TUESDAY, JULY 14, AT 8:30PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

Monday 06 July, 2026