17. The name of Graeme Thorne, and the date of the 7th of July, 1960 signaled a new era in crime that would be remembered by many for what reason?
From Quiz Australia's Sordid Past: 4
Answer:
It was the first known kidnapping to take place in Australia that incorporated a ransom demand.
Graeme Thorne will sadly be remembered as the 8 year old boy that was kidnapped while on his way to school. His parents, Basil and Freda, had just won £100,000 in the Opera House lottery. Back in those days an amount of cash like that would be the equivalent of winning a million dollars in this day and age.
The Thorne's fortunate win did not go unnoticed by Stephen Leslie Bradley. His devious mind hatched a plan to make an easy score of cash and that resulted in the kidnapping of little Graeme. Soon after the kidnapping Graeme's distraught parents got the phone call that every parent would dread, "I have got your boy, I want 25,000 pounds by five o'clock or I'll feed him to the sharks".
A massive search for the child followed, but 5 weeks later his body was located. Evidence was collected and it was not long until detectives had pieced together the clues and were knocking on Bradley's door. Bradley was aware that the net was closing and had already fled the country. His freedom was short lived and he was arrested in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and an extradition order granted. He got a life sentence and died in gaol.