‘It relates to a Mr Falconio’: The strange call I received a week before Bradley Murdoch died

A week before convicted killer Bradley Murdoch died, an Alice Springs journalist received a strange call – and it hinted at being able to end a potentially decades-long mystery.

The letter NT News reporter Gera Kazakov sent to convicted killer Bradley John Murdoch in late June, 2025, requesting an interview with the killer in Alice Springs. Right: Bradley John Murdoch prior to his death.

One week to the day before convicted killer Bradley Murdoch died, I received a phone call from an unknown number.

“Good morning Mr Kazakov. There is a letter in the mail for you. It relates to a Mr Falconio. That’s all I can say,” the unknown man at the end of line said, before hanging up.

The older-sounding gentleman seemed reluctant to share the information, and what he said had completely caught me off guard as I was having my first coffee at 9am.

A fortnight earlier, I’d exclusively broken the news Peter Falconio’s killer was in palliative care in Alice Springs Hospital where he was “just about dead,” according a source.

Being one of the few reporters based in Alice Springs, I’d spent time out the front of the hospital trying to catch a glimpse of him – following a lead he was being wheeled through the front doors of the hospital.

A photo of the Alice Springs Hospital from an early morning stake-out, where I was waiting out the front trying to get a glimpse of Murdoch. Picture: Gera Kazakov

I was searching for any way to get in touch with him, and interview requests through the formal channels – such as the Department of Corrections – were knocked back.

It led to me writing a letter to Murdoch and requesting a formal interview with him, as soon as he could possibly do so.

Given Murdoch was on his deathbed, I forked out the extra few dollars to send the letter express, addressed to the Alice Springs Corrections PO Box allocated for prisoners, and waited.

The letter NT News reporter Gera Kazakov sent to convicted killer Bradley John Murdoch in late June, 2025, requesting an interview with the killer in Alice Springs.

And for weeks, I heard nothing.

Until the call came.

Checking the tracking number for the letter I had posted after the call, I found it had made it to the prisoner PO Box.

In the letter, I’d shared my contact information so Murdoch – or someone close to him – could get in touch with me, should he accept.

Since the mysterious call, return calls to the number and text messages have gone unanswered from the nameless man.

As for the letter the strange man alluded to, my PO Box remains empty – with the exact contents of the supposed letter remaining unknown.

Peter Falconio and Joanna Lees at dinner. Picture: File

Could it have contained fresh information which which could finally led a grieving family to the final resting place of their beloved son?

Or could it have been an acceptance of my interview request, which will now come too late?

Police, acknowledging the death of the convicted killer, said he had died without “as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio’s remains”.

They are continuing their appeal for anyone who could have information to provide it to police, and have upped the reward to $500,000 for information which leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio’s final resting place.

Murdoch letter

In the meantime, if the letter does exist, as soon as I receive it – and if it does contain credible information – both you, dear reader, and the police will be the first to know.

And to the mysterious caller, if your letter is real, I’m still eagerly awaiting it and hope to hear from you again soon.

Originally published as ‘It relates to a Mr Falconio’: The strange call I received a week before Bradley Murdoch died