Fairlie Arrow: True story of Gold Coast singer who faked her own kidnapping in December 1991

A Gold Coast singer who later posed nude for Penthouse Magazine faked her own kidnapping to boost her career while hiding out in a local hotel. This is the true story behind one of Queensland’s most bizarre crimes.

IT sounds like something out of a potboiler thriller - A local singer is kidnapped by a crazed fan only to be abandoned on a rural road days later.

Only it then turned out it wasn’t true at all - Instead it was all just a publicity stunt to try and boost a flagging career.

It’s a plot right out of a Hollywood scriptwriter’s fevered imagination but it actually happened right here on the Gold Coast 30 years ago this month.

Singer Fairlie Arrow as pictured in magazine Penthouse Aug 1992

It was December 15, 1991 when Ms Arrow came to public note when police announced to the media they held fears for the singer’s safety

They said the then-27-year-old, who had complained of having been harassed by a male fan for six months had disappeared from her Isle of Capri home.

Det Sgt Mike Sparke told media a friend raised the alarm after having gone to the singer’s home 8.50pm the previous night only to find the door of her car was open and the open front door had the keys in the lock.

Singer Fairlie Arrow became one of the Gold Coast’s most infamous figures.

Sgt Sparke said a man had previously entered Ms Arrow’s former home at Mudgeeraba and written the words “don’t leave me’’ in lipstick on a bedroom mirror.

He said it was believed the same man had discovered her new address and written the words “you left me’’ on a mirror, again in lipstick.

“This man has been building up his infatuation over a lengthy period of time and he’s so infatuated that he has to be with this girl,’’ Sgt Sparke said.

“I’d say he’s demented _ he needs help and we’re hoping he’s not going to harm her. He’s never shown signs that he wanted to hurt her before.’’

Fairlie Arrow

Ms Arrow’s then-husband, George Harvey, was a member of the Gold Coast comedy troupe The Four Kinsman and rushed back from Adelaide where they were on tour at the time.

He made an emotional plea for his wife’s return.

“It’s like something out of a Stephen King novel,’’ he said.

Fears grew for Ms Arrow’s safety but there was joy when she was found 48 hours later dumped on the side of the road at Mudgeeraba.

Police initially declared it a miracle but the case soon soured when officers began to have serious doubts about her story.

The cover of Penthouse from Aug 1992

Fairlie Arrow tried to capitalise on the infamy.

Outside Broadbeach Police Station, Ms Arrow said she knew there was a lot of scepticism about her 48 hour ordeal in which she said she was blindfolded, gagged and her arms and legs tied to a four-poster bed.

Ms Arrow, 27, also described as ludicrous suggestions that “the most frightening experience of my life’’ was designed to boost plans for a commercial neighbourhood watch security company.

“Trust me. This is not a bad publicity stunt,” she said.

“I can think of a lot of easier ways to run a publicity stunt than this.”

Singer Fairlie Arrow arrives as Southport Court on the Gold Coast, Queensland, 16/06/1992.

It was just a week later that Ms Arrow admitted it was indeed a hoax before fleeting to Sydney.

Mr Harvey announced the couple’s marriage was over while Ms Arrow was charged her with making a false complaint and false statement while also slapper her with the $18,000 bill for the search.

By the mid-1990s she relocated to the US where she still lives today.

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Originally published as Fairlie Arrow: True story of Gold Coast singer who faked her own kidnapping in December 1991