Perry Kouroumblis, 65, the key suspect in the infamous 1977 Easey Street murders in Melbourne, has been extradited from Italy to face potential charges. The brutal killings of Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, shocked the nation, with the case remaining unresolved for decades. The investigation gained new momentum after DNA evidence pointed to Kouroumblis as a suspect in recent years. Although Kouroumblis has denied any involvement and has not been formally charged, he was arrested in Italy in September following an Interpol red notice. He is expected to arrive in Australia late Tuesday.
The bodies of Armstrong and Bartlett were discovered three days after they were last seen, with Armstrong’s one-year-old son found unharmed in his cot. Both women had suffered multiple stab wounds, and Armstrong had been sexually assaulted, according to police reports. The crime has captured widespread public attention, inspiring books, podcasts, and several high-profile police appeals, including a 2017 offer of a A$1 million reward for information.
Kouroumblis first became a person of interest shortly after the murders when, as a 17-year-old, he reported finding a bloodied knife near the scene in Collingwood, Melbourne. However, it was only decades later, with advances in DNA analysis, that investigators turned their focus back to him.
Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton described the murders as “an absolutely gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide” during the announcement of Kouroumblis’s arrest in Rome, noting the profound impact on the community. “This was a crime that struck at the heart of our community – two women in their own home, where they should have felt their safest,” Patton said.
After leaving Australia seven years ago, Kouroumblis lived in Greece, where local laws initially prevented prosecution for crimes committed more than 20 years earlier, delaying the case’s progress.
The families of the victims expressed their deep gratitude to the police for their perseverance. In a statement, they shared their emotional response, saying, “For two quiet families from country Victoria, it has always been impossible to comprehend the needless and violent manner in which Suzanne and Susan died.” They also thanked law enforcement, stating, “For always giving us hope and never giving up, we simply say, thank you.”
