Search stepped up for Australia’s most wanted fugitive
He decapitated a teenage girl, disguised himself in fat suits, allegedly plotted to kill a Melbourne underworld figure — then vanished. Now never before seen pictures of Graham Potter’s lair have been released, with police fearing he could target unsuspecting women.
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Police have released never before seen images of Australia’s most wanted fugitive — a convicted murderer on the run for almost a decade after allegedly plotting another slaying.
Graham Potter, who served a 15 year sentence after he decapitated a 19-year-old Kim Barry in Wollongong, vanished after he failed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in 2010.
He was charged with conspiring to murder a Victorian underworld figure, and is also wanted over serious Commonwealth drug charges.
Victoria Police fear the 61-year-old — who has a history of disguising himself in fat suits and wigs and befriending elderly women for accommodation — could have formed a relationship with an unsuspecting woman in a remote area.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Brendan Finn from the Fugitive Taskforce said it is likely Potter had formed a relationship with a woman of similar age or older and warned females, particularly those living in remote areas, to be aware of the predator.
‘This is someone who has a history of incredibly significant violence, including the murder of a woman in New South Wales … this is not someone you want as a friend,’ he warned.
‘There’s nothing to indicate he won’t act with violence again … he is not someone we want out there in our community.’
Potter was last sighted by local police at Tully in Queensland when he ran from a vehicle during a routine police intercept more than six months after his scheduled court hearing in Melbourne.
An extensive search was carried out and his camping gear seized, uncovering an inventory of random goods including pasta sauce, canned tuna, three knives, lubricant, a pair of red Crocs and a compilation of bizarre handwritten “survival” notes describing his life on the run and making detailed threats to kill anyone who may recognise him.
Police also found a number of highlighted newspaper job advertisements, with Sen Con Finn explaining the fugitive’s lengthy CV could have helped him easily slide into employment without detection.
“Potter has a number of manual labour skills, which allows him to seek work in a wide range of places … so we really urge people in those locations and industries to continue to keep a look out for him,’ he said.
“He has welding, bee keeping, hydroponics, gold prospecting and earth moving skills, and is most likely to look for work as a caretaker, farm hand or outback station hand. He is known to live in rental homes and caravan parks, and has the ability to camp out.”
The fugitive is described as caucasian, 175cm tall with a medium to solid build, brown eyes and greying hair.
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He is known to also wear gold sleeper earrings, matching necklace and glasses, and has a number of aliases, including Peter Adams, Josh Lawson, John Page and Jim Henderson.
Sen Con Finn urged people share the images in a bid to nab the runaway man.
“I urge people to look at the images of Potter we’re again releasing today and share them with as many people as you know — particularly friends or associates you might have in rural or remote areas,” he said.
“Someone knows where he is and has the right piece of information to lead to his capture.”
A $100,000 reward is on offer for information that leads to Potter’s capture.