Member-only story
Who Killed Betty Shanks?
An enduring local mystery
On a lazy particular Sunday afternoon I was surfing the internet
When I come across Brisbane’s longest running murder cold case,
It was 1952 when local girl, Betty Shanks, was found murdered at Wilston-Grange
An inner city suburb of Brisbane, not one you would expect a murder to take place.
Police and detectives started the excruciatingly thorough murder investigation
They grilled thousands of people and put together a long list of suspects,
Not a clue too minor to check out, every fibre, fingerprint or hair strand processed
While every story, alibi, accusation and statement was scrutinised next.
Unfortunately the clues and evidence available did not allow the case to be solved
Not through any lack of trying, thousands of man hours re-interviewing every person involved,
News reporters and the local television stations covered the story as it evolved
As every suspect’s life was scrutinised in minute detail but nothing was resolved.
After more than a year the entire investigation appears to have finally run cold
In which the case was turned over to…
