Extradited Suspect Linked to 1977 Melbourne Murders of Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong

After being extradited from Italy, Perry Kouroumblis faces investigation for the long-unsolved 1977 murders of two women in Melbourne, reigniting national interest in the case.

A man linked to one of Australia's most notorious cold cases, often referred to as the Easey Street murders, is returning to Australia after being extradited from Italy. The case involves the tragic stabbings of 27-year-old Suzanne Armstrong and 28-year-old Susan Bartlett, whose untimely deaths in their Melbourne residence in 1977 have haunted the nation for decades.

Perry Kouroumblis, 65, is the prime suspect in these murders, a development that emerged only recently due to advancements in DNA testing. He was detained in September in Rome and is expected to arrive back in Australia late on Tuesday. Despite not yet being charged, Kouroumblis—who claims his innocence—first attracted police attention just after the murders when he reported finding a bloodied knife near the crime scene in the inner-city suburb of Collingwood.

The bodies of the two women, who were friends from high school, were discovered three days after they were last seen alive. Reports indicate that both women suffered over a dozen stab wounds, and Armstrong was also sexually assaulted. The murders gained massive public interest, inspiring numerous police appeals, true crime literature, and a podcast dedicated to the case.

In an effort to generate leads, Victoria Police established a A$1 million reward in 2017. Police Chief Shane Patton referred to the crime as “an absolutely gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide,” underlining the shockwaves it sent through the community. Kouroumblis, a dual citizen of Greece and Australia, had evaded arrest due to specific statutes in Greece that prevent murder charges from being filed after 20 years.

In a poignant statement, the victims’ families expressed the irreversible impact the killings have had on their lives and thanked the police for their relentless pursuit of justice. As Kouroumblis returns to face scrutiny, many hope this will pave the way for closure in a haunting chapter of Australia's history.