Warning: Graphic content
Thieves who tried to steal the body of underworld boss George Marrogi’s sister had allegedly planned a revenge plot to film the desecration and mutilation of her corpse and send the recording to torment him in prison.
CCTV footage captured the thieves wearing gas masks outside the mausoleum’s doors, dressed in black hoodies and pants.
The crypt and memorial for Meshilin Marrogi in Preston General Cemetery.
Their plot to steal the heavy coffin in a waiting van was foiled by a broken lift, but they instead broke open the casket and are believed to have made off with a $100,000 diamond ring and potentially other items of jewellery.
Three underworld sources, who can’t be identified for safety reasons, say terrorising the jailed head of the Notorious Crime Family with the defilement of his beloved sister Meshilin was the objective of the botched break-in at Preston General Cemetery in late July.
The theft of the body was supposed to be just the first step in what underworld sources have described as a sickening plan to torment Marrogi by creating a video of his sister’s corpse being set upon by dogs.
Stills from CCTV footage of the break-in at Preston General Cemetery on July 30.
It would then be dumped where she could not be found by Marrogi’s family and given a proper re-burial.
The video was supposed to be sent to Marrogi in prison and circulated in the underworld in a brutal public act of revenge against the toppled NCF boss, who has amassed a series of mortal enemies during his lengthy criminal career and inside prison.
“It was 100 per cent about torturing George while he’s stuck inside jail, to f--- with his head,” an underworld source said.
Jailed killer George Marrogi.
“This is the sickest kind of revenge you can imagine. It’s clear these people are willing to do anything.”
The prime suspect, according to underworld sources, is a rising new gang boss who was recently released from a long jail stint and has since been operating from overseas after being deported from Australia.
The boss, whose name is suppressed, has a history of bad blood with Marrogi after the once-close friends had a major falling out.
Police intelligence and underworld sources say the escalating violence seen in Melbourne’s underworld this year is linked to a major push by this new boss to seize turf in the lucrative illicit tobacco market and settle old personal and business scores now that he is out of jail.
Marrogi is currently serving a 32-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder.
Meshilin, who is known as “Mish” to her family and friends, died aged 30 in 2021 after contracting COVID-19.
While the coffin was opened and items were believed to have been stolen, her body was otherwise untouched.
In a bid to boost the investigation, Victoria Police has now released still images from CCTV footage of the break-in on July 30 at 5am at the sprawling cemetery and double-storey mausoleum on Plenty Road in Bundoora.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks of the Lunar Taskforce said investigators believe it was a “targeted incident”.
“This is a highly unusual incident and I know there has been a lot of speculation, particularly in criminal circles, as to why this incident happened and who was responsible,” he said.
“While theft is not discounted as the only motive, police are receiving consistent intelligence that this was undertaken as a form of retribution against a relative of the deceased woman.”
Marrogi has been involved in a long-running series of personal and business feuds with underworld rivals in the trafficking trade and standover rackets, which have been linked to a series of murders, shootings and bashings.
The 34-year-old, who has spent barely one year outside of prison during his adult life, founded and ran the NCF gang from inside his maximum security jail cell.
It was taken down by Victorian and federal law enforcement in a massive drug trafficking and money laundering investigation last year.
There has been widespread disbelief in the underworld about the botched body-snatching attempt and robbery, which is broadly considered far beyond what is acceptable even for the standards of the vicious and brutal criminal community.
The CCTV stills show one suspect has a larger build and the other a smaller build.
“Police are keen to speak to anyone who has information about who is responsible and why, and this information as always can be provided anonymously,” Banks said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
John Silvester lifts the lid on Australia’s criminal underworld. Sign up to receive his Naked City newsletter every Thursday.