Major update on murder investigation of Jeff Mundy, Robert Atkins
Police have made a major breakthrough in the investigation into the murders of three men believed to be linked to drugs.
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A missing man was held in a container against his will for weeks before he was eventually murdered, South Australia Police believe.
Officers in South Australia have raided a property in Lonsdale this week, thought to be the final known location of Jeff Mundy.
Mr Mundy has been missing since December 2020, and police believe he has been murdered, and that his death is linked to the unsolved murders of two other men, Trevor King and Robert Atkins.
All three deaths are thought to be linked to drug debts.
Addressing media on Friday afternoon, Major Crime Investigation Branch Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said it’s suspected more than a dozen low-to-medium level drug dealers are involved in the deaths.
He said it was believed Mr Mundy spent his final days inside the container at 60 Morrow Road, a property frequented by people linked to low level drug crime.
“We believe that Jeff was held there against his will in a container in the weeks prior to his death and murder,” Major Crime Investigation Branch Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said.
“We know that this premesis is frequented by low level drug users and low level drug dealers.
“We believe that a number of people have been involved in not only Jeff’s murder but also the disposal of his body.”
The 36-year-old was last seen alive on December 19 2020.
He was captured on CCTV leaving a chemist at Colonnades Shopping Centre in Noarlunga, before returning home to his parents’ house.
Police believe he left their home at 3pm, and was seen speaking to a man at the Seaford interchange before getting off a bus at Sellicks Beach at 6:30pm.
He was reported missing by his mother on December 23 2020.
A year later, South Australian police launched Task Force Southern to investigate the suspected murders of Mr Mundy, Robert Atkins and Trevor King.
Mr Featherby said the investigation was progressing “very, very well” and that there had been 158 calls to Crimestoppers in relation to the deaths of the three men.
Police have searched 62 premises and have arrested 27 people for a total of 95 charges in their investigations into the three deaths.
Charges include blackmail, unlawful detention, serious assaults, firearms offences, money laundering, theft, perverting the course of justice, and witness intimidation according to Mr Featherby.
Mr Featherby said there may be multiple suspects involved in the separate “roles” of the killing of Mr Mundy and the disposal of his body.
Police are also investigating the involvement of drug syndicates from the Lonsdale area, Oldinga and Selicks beach.
He said there had been five separate searches in relation to the investigation of Mr Atkins’ death, with the last being the search of a well on June 21 2022.
His remains have still yet to be found.
One search of Booberowie led to the discovery of nine firearms that had been buried and the arrest of a 60-year-old man in relation to the guns.
Officers located a firearm, taser, hydroponic cannabis crop and three shipping containers of illegal fireworks as a part of their search today.
Police are conducting separate investigations into these items.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers and is reminded a reward of up to $200,000 is offered for information that aids the investigation.
Originally published as Major update on murder investigation of Jeff Mundy, Robert Atkins
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