New DNA technology identifies possible killer in 1982 Gold Coast cold case – 9News

Owen Edward (Eddie) Crabbe was killed in a Gold Coast hotel room in 1982, shortly after he split up with his wife and came out as gay.

Queensland Police are using new DNA technology, which has produced an accurate description and image of a possible suspect.

Police believe the DNA sample sketch has identified a man named Michael, who was a friend of Crabbe’s, and hasn’t been seen since the murder.

Criminologist Xanthe Mallette said they were using DNA from blood found at the crime scene 40 years ago, to produce an accurate description and image.

“In this case, his skin colour is very fair to fair and we can put a likeliness around that of 76 per cent,” Mallette said.

The image below is a sketch of what the genes from the blood sample show the potential killer could look like.

Queensland Police have failed to locate the suspect, who they believe was staying with Crabbe at the time.

Police believe the killer was a martial arts expert, as Crabbe’s injuries were mostly from kicks, not punches.

His son Tracey Crabbe, who was 13 at the time, hasn’t given up hope on finding his father’s killer.

He said it would be good to get closure as it was a horrible event that happened.

“I reckon just by fate he’s met someone who obviously got issues, something hasn’t gone right,” Tracey Crabbe said.

Police are now offering $500,000 as a reward and anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.