One of Australia’s most infamous serial killer cases will be the subject of The Claremont Murders, a two-part drama event coming to Channel 7 over the Easter long weekend.
The show follows the real-life events that rocked the people of Perth in 1996 and 1997, when three young women went missing in the wealthy suburb of Claremont. The disappearance of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon went unsolved for 25 years, until police, with the help of a determined journalist, caught up with the killer in 2016.
However, it wasn’t until 2020 when the Claremont Killer was sentenced to life in prison for the murders. The Claremont Murders will follow the entire 25-year span of the case, from the day the first woman went missing right through to the end of the trial.
Who Is Bradley Robert Edwards?
Bradley Robert Edwards is an Australian serial killer who was found guilty of the Claremont Murders. Not much is known by the public about Edwards beyond his involvement in the case. In 2020, he was found guilty of the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. There wasn’t enough evidence to convict him of the murder of Sarah Spiers. Even so, the court believed he was responsible for that, too.
Who Were Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon
18-year-old Sarah Spiers disappeared from Claremont in the early hours of January 27, 1996. Witnesses saw her waiting for a taxi, as well as an unidentified car hanging around nearby. By the time the taxi arrived, Sarah was missing. Police have never found her body.
23-year-old Jane Rimmer disappeared from the same area five months later. Like Sarah, Jane had been out with friends before disappearing. A family who were out picking wildflowers discovered her body in bushland in Wellard, about 40km south of Claremont.
27-year-old Ciara Glennon was the last-known victim of the Claremont Killer. She was last seen walking along the highway just after midnight after spending the night out with friends. Witnesses saw a car stop, and the driver talk to her. A bushwalker found her body just off a track in Eglinton, about a 50-minute drive from Claremont, 19 days after she went missing.
How Was the Claremont Killer Caught?
Bradley Robert Edwards was caught in December 2016 after DNA evidence from an unrelated breaking and entering case linked him to the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Edwards, who had no previous link to the case, was arrested at his home in Kewdale and charged with both murders. He was also charged in relation to two other attacks, including the break and enter, and later charged with the murder of Sarah Spiers. In all, he was charged with eight offences and, in 2019, pleaded guilty to the five non-murder charges. His trial for the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon began in late 2019.
Related: The Four Best Australian TV Shows of All Time
Related: From Deaths to Betrayal: 7 Convincing Theories We Have About ‘Succession’ S4
Who Is In The Claremont Murders Cast?
The show follows the investigative team and the families of the victims over the course of 25 years, from the day of the first disappearance to the conviction of Bradley Robert Edwards.
Hannah Penman, Liv Richardson and Ally Harris play Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, respectively. Ryan Johnson (Bump, Upright) plays Bradley Robert Edwards.
Aaron Glenane (Snowpiercer, Picnic at Hanging Rock) plays Detective Gavin Wyatt, the lead investigator on the case, and Laura Gordon (Harrow) plays Bobbi McAllister, a former detective — and Wyatt’s old partner — who helps crack the case. Catherine Văn-Davies (The Twelve) plays Alison Fan, a journalist who never let the story go.
Erik Thomson (All Saints) and Kate Ritchie (Home and Away) play Sarah’s parents Don and Carol. It’s a verifiable who’s who of Australian television.
Where to Watch The Claremont Murders
The Claremont Murders Part One premieres at 8.30pm on Easter Monday on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Read more stories from The Latch and subscribe to our email newsletter.