Owen ‘Eddie’ Crabbe’s son in plea for help to solve his father’s brutal murder in Surfers Paradise
The son of a Brisbane storeman brutally murdered in Surfers Paradise decades ago hopes DNA imaging technology – used for the first time in Queensland – can solve the 40-year-old murder.
Police & Courts
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The son of a Brisbane storeman brutally murdered in Surfers Paradise decades ago hopes DNA imaging technology – used for the first time in Queensland – can solve the 40-year-old murder.
Owen “Eddie” Crabbe, 57, was found dead in the Beachcomber Hotel on May 31, 1982.
The 57-year-old was found naked, beaten with his throat slashed and lying on the floor near a couch in the room.
He was last seen alive about 12.30am on May 30 in Connections Nightclub. Police believe he had been dead for about 24 hours before he was found.
On Wednesday police released an image made with cutting-edge DNA imaging technology of what the killer may have looked like.
An $500,000 reward is also being offered.
Police believe Mr Crabbe “must have put up a fight” as furniture was knocked over and cushions out of place.
He had told a friend he was meeting a man named “Michael” who was staying with him on the Gold Coast.
On Wednesday, Mr Crabbe’s son Tracey Crabbe, who was 13 when his father was killed, pleaded for anyone who knew anything to come forward.
“I know it’s 40 years ago whether you were at one of the clubs that night, you saw my father or someone who was a bit not quite right, please come forward.
“It’s the community thing to do.”
Mr Crabbe said it was his belief a “random” attacked his dad due to his generous, friendly nature.
“I reckon just by fate, he has met someone who has obviously got issues who wasn’t quite right,” he said.
“He was very social … very generous … communicate with anyone, happy to buy someone a beer. Just liked seeing someone happy.”
Police are hoping the release of a new digital facial image created from DNA technology will help identity the man who was involved in Mr Crabbe’s murder.
Queensland Police homicide cold case investigation team Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said they were hoping to find a resolution for Mr Crabbe’s family.
“It is the first time we have used it in Queensland,” she said.
“It’s amazing all these new things are out there.”
Det Sen Sgt Kentwell said Michael was the person Mr Crabbe told people he would be with. The sketch was of the person seen with him on Saturday night. She said police were not clear if it was the same person.
She said police believed Mr Crabbe met his attacker either in Connections Nightclub or shortly after leaving.
Mr Crabbe then went to his room with the person where they consumed alcohol, police believe.
“It was apparent the killer was injured during the attack leaving a large amount of blood,” Det Sen Sgt Kentwell said.
“Investigations failed to locate Michael and also failed to identify any suspects.”
The cold case homicide team started reviewing the case in 2020.
Newcastle University criminologist and associate professor in forensic anthropology Dr Xanthe Mallett explained the image had been completed using DNA samples which had been collected internationally through genealogy websites.
Researches then found family members who matched the DNA blood sample found at Mr Crabbe’s murder seen to determine build the image.
“I am not saying this is what this person looks like, this is what the genes are saying he looks like,” she said.
“We know this person is northern European.”
The Bulletin reported in 1982 that in the days before his murder Mr Crabbe was spotted checking into the hotel before going shopping for food.
He had withdrawn $600 from his credit union on the day he left Brisbane – a large sum in the 1980s.
Only a 20c coin was found in the apartment at the time and the remaining money has never been recovered.
The Friday before his death, he was spotted with a man believed to be in his mid-20s at Surfers Paradise’ Flashez nightclub.
Mr Crabbe, who had run The Plantation Restaurant on the Coast in the mid-1960s, was described as a “jovial gent” who wore a toupee, had a goatee and was a “tidy dresser”.
The Bulletin reported on June 2, 1982: “(Police) believe the murderer was ‘picked up’ by the victim and attacked him after refusing his … advances.”
Mr Crabbe was a storeman who lived in Brisbane but regularly travelled to Surfers Paradise and stayed at the Beachcomber.
He had split from his partner.
At the time of Mr Crabbe’s murder police released a hand-drawn sketch of a man they believed may have been involved.
A man who was spotted leaving the unit was described as in his early 20s, had long brown “slightly fuzzy” hair, olive skin, a thin build and between 167 and 170cm tall. He was wearing long white flared jeans and a dark shirt with a scruffy appearance.
In the mid-2000s police had hoped new DNA technologies would help unlock the mystery of Mr Crabbe’s death but again came up empty-handed.
Anyone with any information should call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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