A Monster’s Legacy Never Truly Dies
For decades, Ivan Milat, the infamous Backpacker Killer, haunted Australia’s national conscience. He wasn’t just a serial murderer—he was the architect of one of the country’s darkest nightmares. But what no one could have predicted was that his thirst for violence wouldn’t end with him.
It would live on, not through legend—but through blood.
Matthew Milat, Ivan’s great-nephew, would step into the shadows left behind, wielding not only the family name—but the same forest, the same violence, and the same hunger for infamy.
The Backpacker Murders: Where the Horror Began
Between 1989 and 1992, Australia became the hunting ground of a killer. Hitchhikers—mostly foreign backpackers—disappeared without a trace. When two bodies were found in Belanglo State Forest in 1992, investigators uncovered a trail of systematic slaughter.
- Joanne Walters and Caroline Clarke had been brutally tortured—stabbed, shot, bound.
- Over the following year, five more bodies were discovered, dumped like debris in dense wilderness.
Each crime scene whispered the same chilling message: this was not random. This was ritual.
A Family Name Written in Blood
Ivan Milat, a seemingly quiet man from a sprawling family of ten siblings, had a dark past:
- A criminal history of theft and assault
- A rape trial (from which he was acquitted)
- An obsession with guns, control, and dominance
His job with the Roads and Traffic Authority allowed him access to Australia’s highways, and his victims were travelers—ideal prey in a country where disappearing into the outback is far too easy.
But it was the escape of one victim, Paul Onions, that turned the tide. Years after his near-abduction, Onions saw Milat’s face on the news and recognized him immediately. That tip led to a search of Milat’s home—and a graveyard of stolen items from the murdered backpackers.
Ivan Milat: The Man Who Wouldn’t Break
In 1996, Milat was convicted of seven murders and sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences. Even then, he never confessed. He performed hunger strikes, swallowed razors, and chopped off his own finger to demand attention.
“He died as he lived,” said one detective. “Defiant, delusional, and completely unrepentant.”
Yet, few could have imagined that the seeds of violence he sowed would bloom again—in his own bloodline.
Matthew Milat: A Mirror in the Making
In 2010, the world was shocked once more. Matthew Milat, Ivan’s great-nephew, was arrested for the axe murder of a teenage friend, David Auchterlonie, in none other than—Belanglo State Forest.
He was 17 years old. The same age Ivan was when he began to spiral into criminal behavior.
Matthew lured David to the forest under the pretense of celebrating his birthday. But what followed was pure savagery. Matthew hacked David to death with an axe, while his friend Cohen Klein recorded the killing on a phone.
And afterward, Matthew didn’t hide in shame. He bragged.
“You know me, you know my family… I did what they do.”
A Family Curse, or a Deliberate Imitation?
Psychologists and criminologists debated: Was this genetic? Environmental? Or something more disturbing—a cult of personality around Ivan, idolized by his own flesh and blood?
Matthew idolized his uncle’s legacy. He reportedly talked often about Ivan, and wanted people to fear the Milat name again. His attack wasn’t random—it was a performance, a reenactment of legacy.
In 2012, he was sentenced to 43 years in prison, with no chance of parole for 30 years. The courtroom listened in horror as a poem written by Matthew was read aloud, detailing David’s final moments.
Even Ivan Milat, behind bars, was reportedly shaken by Matthew’s crime.
“He was disgusted,” said a prison source. “Not because of the murder—but because someone else had taken his spotlight.”
The Final Curtain for Ivan Milat
On October 27, 2019, Ivan Milat died of cancer, still denying his crimes. He never named his victims. Never apologized. Never gave closure.
His legacy remains one of cruelty, arrogance, and silence.
But now, through Matthew, his story has a terrifying epilogue.
A Legacy Carved in Pain
Ivan Milat is dead. But his name still casts a shadow. For the families of Joanne, Caroline, Gabor, Anja, Deborah, Simone, and James—his victims—the wounds never healed.
Matthew’s crime reopened those wounds. It reminded Australia that evil doesn’t vanish with a verdict. Sometimes, it waits—quietly—until the next generation arrives.
FAQs: Understanding the Milat Family Crimes
How many people did Ivan Milat kill?
He was convicted of seven murders, but is suspected of killing at least three more.
Was Matthew Milat inspired by Ivan?
Yes. Court documents and friends confirmed Matthew idolized Ivan and wanted to “prove” himself.
Where is Matthew Milat now?
He is incarcerated in Australia and won’t be eligible for parole until 2040.
Did Ivan Milat ever confess?
No. Despite overwhelming evidence and his death in prison, he never admitted guilt.
What is the Belanglo State Forest known for?
It’s now infamous as the site where Ivan Milat disposed of his victims, and where Matthew Milat committed his crime.