Eye Spy podcast: Michael Rumore reveals what he’s seen in Sydney’s secret underworld

He has worked on cases involving some of Australia’s most notorious killers, rock stars and footballers. But there’s one he won’t forget. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Michael Rumore looked into the eyes of a homicidal manic and could instantly see how he was a successful serial killer.

The private eye has dealt with a string of murderers, but this one taught him a valuable life lesson.

“He met me with a beautiful smile. His eyes lit up. He was happy, friendly, engaging. And this is how serial killers are successful …

“They don’t have pitchforks, horns and breathe fire. He was like, ‘how are you, mate? How are you going? Good to see you. Sit down.’

“He was engaging … knowing what I know about him, it sounds silly for me to say this, but he was a lovely man …” Mr Rumore told the Eye Spy podcast.

Private investigator Michael Rumore has worked on string of cases involving some of Australia’s most notorious killers. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Rumore has worked on string of cases involving some of Australia’s most notorious killers from Ivan Milat, whom he has just described, to Arthur Neddy Smith, and Bruce Burrell who was convicted of killing abducted mother Kerry Whelan.

Mr Rumore has also carried out investigations on behalf of rock stars, footballers, and high net worth individuals.

But he will never forget the day when the baby-faced killer Sef Gonzalez, who is now attempting to have his conviction for the triple murder of his family overturned, walked into his office asking for help. It was before he was charged.

“I thought, well, what do you want me to do? He wanted to be free. Remember, he’s he changed his story a couple of times to police … before he was charged….“

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Mr Rumore had a hunch Gonzalez was being followed by police and he was probably right. Gonzalez was arrested later that night, and was ultimately found guilty of the murders of his mother, father and sister.

“I think it was after he was charged and then formally his lawyers engaged us,” Mr Rumore said.

“We were to look for the prostitute … that he said that he was with that night as his alibi. And of course, she didn’t exist. But he walked into our office prior to being charged, looking to have that work done, which struck me as being odd.”

When Mr Rumore was also asked to work behind the scenes on the high-profile murder case of prostitute and whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, he was really on his guard.

Ivan Milat. Picture: Supplied.

Sef Gonzales. Picture: Supplied

He was wading into Sydney’s seedy underworld and he knew how risky that could be.

Ms Huckstepp had been found floating dead in a pond in Centennial Park after publicly revealing details about corrupt cops and links to the notorious and recently deceased criminal Arthur “Neddy” Smith.

It was before the days of mobile phones.

Murder victim Sallie-Anne Huckstepp.

Arthur Stanley "Neddy" Smith.

“I’d have to tell my office, tell my partner this is what I’m doing today or tonight. I’m going here, here, here and here. If you don’t hear from me by 10 o’clock – avenge my death. I used to jokingly say,” Mr Rumore said.

“What you have to understand is you’re getting involved in Sydney’s underworld. You know, the underbelly as it’s been come to as it’s come to be known.”

He met with Neddy Smith in prison after Smith had been charged with Ms Huckstepp’s murder.

Mr Rumore said Smith directed him to read his book Catch and Kill Your Own, “so I would have an understanding of who all the players are, the underbelly of Sydney”.

Smith was acquitted of Ms Huckstepp’s killing, but was convicted of the murder of brothel owner Harvey Jones and the stabbing murder of tow truck driver Ronald Flavell near the Coogee Bay Hotel in Australia’s first documented road rage incident.

French photographer Roni Levi fatally shot by police at Bondi Beach in 1997.

In another high profile case, the family of French photographer, Roni Levi, who was shot dead by police on Bondi Beach, asked Mr Rumore to investigate the circumstances of the killing.

“My instructions were from the lawyers for Melinda Dundas, Ronnie’s ex-wife,

“Why did these two cops shoot and shoot? Apparently readily? That’s what it was all about. So I was pounding the footpaths of Bondi looking for people to come forward to give me evidence … my task was to seek out witnesses and find evidence.”

Originally published as Eye Spy podcast: Michael Rumore reveals what he’s seen in Sydney’s secret underworld