One of Australia's most notorious child rapists known as 'Mr Cruel' could very well still be alive. He has never been caught or identified
One of Australia's most notorious serial rapists known as 'Mr Cruel' could very well still be alive 28 years after terrorising Melbourne, investigators have revealed.
The serial predator and suspected killer is believed to be responsible for raping and kidnapping at least a dozen young girls across the city in the late 1980s and early 90s - and to this day has never been caught or identified.
Two girls kidnapped by Mr Cruel - Sharon Wills, ten, and Nicola Lynas, 13 - were eventually released, but 13-year-old Karmein Chan's remains were found a year after her abduction. She had been shot three times in the head.
Australian Crime Stories revisited the Melbourne schoolgirl's case on the 28th anniversary of her abduction and murder on Sunday night.
Karmein's case stood out from all the others because she was the only victim to be killed by the rapist after she was taken.
Three days after she vanished, her mother Phyllis Chan issued a desperate plea beamed on live TV around the country.
'Please, release my daughter,' the distraught parent said through uncontrollable tears. Karmein's body was found a year later.
Two girls kidnapped at this time by Mr Cruel - Sharon Wills (far left) ten, and Nicola Lynas (centre) 13, were eventually released, but 13-year-old Karmein Chan's remains were found a year after her abduction
Karmein's case stood out from all the others because she was the only victim to be killed by the rapist after she was taken. Her murder also marked the end of Mr Cruel's three-year reign of terror in 1991 - when he fell off the radar and never struck again
Her murder also marked the end of Mr Cruel's three-year reign of terror in 1991 - when he fell off the radar and never struck again.
Mr Cruel attacked girls as young as 11 in Melbourne in the 1980s and 1990s.
The paedophile has never been identified.
August 22, 1987, Lower Plenty: He broke into house in the night, locked the parents in a wardrobe and attacked their 11-year-old daughter
December 27, 1988, Ringwood: He broke into a house, tied
