Man Arrested in Melbourne Cold Case After 44 Years

A 69-year-old man has been charged in connection with the alleged rapes of Jessie Grace Lauder in the early 1980s following renewed investigative efforts.

• Jessie Grace Lauder, an 82-year-old grandmother, was sexually assaulted in her Newport home in Melbourne in 1981 and again in 1983.
• The alleged perpetrator, now 69 years old, was arrested in Hoppers Crossing after a renewed public appeal for information earlier this month.
• Police executed a search warrant and charged the man with multiple offenses, including rape, aggravated burglary, and indecent assault.
• The investigation spanned over four decades, with breakthroughs aided by advancements in DNA testing and persistent efforts by the Sexual Crime Squad.
• Lauder's family, including her grandson Malcolm, expressed relief and gratitude for the arrest, marking a significant step toward justice for their late grandmother.

3 Articles

The Sydney Morning Herald Australian Broadcasting Corporation 9News