Cry Blue Murder
Page 8
I’m sorry to be talking about Adeline again, Alice. I do try really hard but I just don’t seem to be able to help it. Sorry.
x CC B(ad)
PS I still hope.
THE HERALD
In cold blood – Cocoon Killer claims another victim
Alison Porter
June 1
The body of missing teenager Adeline Taranto was found early this morning in Victoria Gardens, Prahran East, after a six-day police search. Adeline was last seen at a tram stop near Ashbourne School for Girls in Toorak on May 25th. Police believe the alleged assailant may be the same man responsible for the murders of Eltham schoolgirls Cornelia Walker and Esther Davidson two years ago, as well as the recent abduction and incarceration of Barrington Hall schoolgirl Hallie Knight.
As with the earlier victims Adeline Taranto had suffered a cardiac arrest as the result of a lethal dose of cyanide. Her body was found bound in hand-woven fabric. In what forensic experts are describing as a gruesome ‘DNA daisy chain’ police believe the hair and clothing of the killer’s previous victims had been woven into a death shroud intended for his next victim. While police are working with Hallie Knight to locate the killer, she is yet to offer information leading to an arrest.
Police are looking for a slim man in his mid to late 40s, possibly of English origin, in possession of a late model silver station-wagon.
The parents of Adeline Taranto urge families to accompany their daughters at all times when they are out of the house. ‘This man is cunning,’ said devastated Nick Taranto. ‘He plans his abductions carefully, hand-picks his victims and knows their routines. No girl is safe until this monster is brought to justice.’ A private funeral for Adeline will be held next week.
Detective Senior Constable Maurice Bell said: ‘Clearly this is a very sad time for Adeline’s family and friends, but we will not rest until we find this man. Meanwhile, we are appealing to the public for information that might lead to an arrest. Someone must know something. This man may operate alone but could also have an accomplice, possibly a female. He is a brazen predator, frequenting public places where normal parents are going about the business of raising their families. We would like to hear from members of the public who have seen anything out of the ordinary: a car circling the area, someone hanging around a school or sporting facility, anything untoward, no matter how insignificant it appeared at the time.’
However, local residents are asking how much longer they must live in fear. While the Cocoon Killer continues to pursue young girls, communities are in lockdown and parents want answers. ‘Why, after four abductions and three murders are the police no closer to finding this man?’ says Barrington Hall parent, Stuart Allen. ‘Our daughters, our precious girls are disappearing one after another and police are no closer to finding this man than they were two years ago. It’s just not good enough.’
Mr Allen is one of a group of local parents who have banded together under the name Coalition of Parents for Safer Streets. ‘The safety of our girls is our number one priority. Our lives have completely closed in. Adeline was a beautiful angel taken way before her time. No parent recovers from this. No community recovers from a trauma like this.’
While police presence on the streets is obvious, with hundreds of extra task-force members deployed, public frustration is mounting. ‘It’s plain and simple,’ said Barrington Hall teacher Vincent Ngyen. ‘You respect someone when a good job is done. One unsolved murder is already too much. Our girls are being taken from under our noses and the police haven’t got a damn clue.’
Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
57–83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank VIC 3006
MONASH University
AUTOPSY REPORT
Case No. 3320
Re: TARANTO deceased
ELIZABETH FELD on her oath saith – I am a legally qualified Medical Practitioner and Forensic Pathologist.
On the 2nd day of June at 1.45pm at the Coronial Services Centre, Southbank, I performed an autopsy on a body whom I believe to be ADELINE TARANTO, aged 14 years.
Forensic Technician: Gabrielle Wolf
Observers: Detective Senior Constable Maurice Bell (Homicide Squad),
Acting Detective Sergeant Wayne Newbury (VPFSC Photographer),
Detective Sergeant Ben Newman
CIRCUMSTANCES
The deceased is a 14-year-old girl. She has been identified by her father as Adeline Taranto. She was found dead in the Victoria Gardens in Prahran East and pronounced dead on the scene at 5.42am on June 1st.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
The lips are bluish grey in colour and there is a fine blue hue to the skin other than that normally associated with death. Apart from some slight abrasions to the tongue and inside of the mouth, and slight bruising to the right arm, chin and upper lip, the body is well-kempt (see discussion below).
The body is that of an adolescent Caucasian girl weighing 46kg and measuring approximately 137cm in height.
There is a mortuary identification tag attached to the left ankle bearing the name of the deceased and the number 3320. Body is received clad in a loosely woven blanket but is otherwise naked.
Rigor mortis is fully fixed in all extremities and the jaw.
Stasis lividity is fixed and confined to the posterior aspect of the body.
Traces of sand and gravel have stuck to the underside of the body. These were taken for further examination (Lab Number BE 7532).
The body is cold to touch and has been refrigerated.
There is no wristwatch, jewellery, earrings, bracelets or other objects attached.
Signs of medical intervention
Nil.
Signs of violence or injury
1.Faint bruising and superficial abrasions on the inner aspect of the lip on the right side. Two glass splinters present measuring 3mm and 5mm. See diagram attached.
2.Superficial abrasions on the interior cheek on the right side. Five glass splinters present measuring 3mm, 17mm, 6mm, 6mm and 7mm long respectively. See diagram attached.
3.Superficial abrasions to the corner of the lip on the right side.
4.Suggestion of purple bruising on the right upper forearm. There are two bruises, the first is 6.7cm long and 1.2cm wide. The second, 0.5cm below it, is 7.8cm long and 1.3cm wide. See diagram attached.
5.There is pale purple bruising under the chin which is 4.4cm long and 1.4cm wide. See diagram attached.
6.There is pale purple bruising across the upper lip which is 6.7cm long and 1.2cm wide. See diagram attached.
Distinguishing marks and features – prepared on an exceptions basis.
Head and neck
1.The hair is dark and chin length. It has been recently cut.
2.The irides are dark brown. There is no conjunctival haemorrhage.
3.The deceased’s dentition is natural and in good condition. Traces of glass found between the right-sided incisors.
Thorax and abdomen
1.Traces of a golden sticky substance found on the abdomen. Sent for identification (Lab Number BE 7533) and found to be honey. It is not clear whether these were placed on the deceased at the time of death or whether it adhered to her between death and discovery of the body.
All organs and the brain appear normal.
COMMENT
The cause of death in this 14-year-old girl is poisoning by ‘Prussian Blue’ or cyanide.
Probable time and date of death is consistent with the evening of May 31st.
There is nothing to suggest hypothermia or exposure.
Toxicological analysis of a post-mortem blood sample collected soon after the deceased arrived at the morgue revealed presence of cyanide at a concentration of 3.000g/1000ml. Other common drugs or poisons were not detected. (La
b Number BE 7534.)
Biological samples were taken after the deceased arrived at the morgue. These included a left hand swab and slide, right hand swab and slide, neck area swab and slide, left and right fingernails. A post mortem CT scan revealed no additional information.
Seven shards of glass in the lips and mouth on the right hand side (see above) may be consistent with the crushing of a glass ampoule between the teeth.
The body is in normal condition. There are signs of bruising on the upper right arm, under the chin and on the upper lip (see above), which may represent offensive injuries. There are no underlying fractures. It is possible to interpret bruising under the chin and on the upper lip as being consistent with force being used to fracture the ampoule.
The stomach is of slightly smaller than normal volume for a girl of 14. It contains approximately 100ml of milky liquid but no traces of partially digested food.
There is no evidence of sexual assault of any kind.
There is no evidence of any natural disease which may have caused or contributed to the death. Tissue was taken from all the significant organs for histerological examination. A further report will follow but in our opinion it is unlikely that these will show significant information.
A lab report of the sand, honey and DNA samples of the hands, neck and fingernails will follow this report.
Elizabeth Feld, MB BS (Hons), FRCPA
Forensic Pathologist
Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
THIS IS A VIDEO-RECORDED INTERVIEW BETWEEN DETECTIVE SENIOR CONSTABLE MAURICE BELL AND AJAY MEHTA OF THOMASTOWN CONDUCTED AT THE ST KILDA ROAD POLICE STATION ON SATURDAY 14th MAY AT 9.03AM. OTHER PERSONS PRESENT, MY CORROBORATOR, ACTING DETECTIVE SERGEANT PETER DAVIS.
Q1Well you see, Ajay, you’re in quite a lot of trouble. Because, as you are aware, we conducted a search of your premises and we found this.
AKrishna, sir?
Q2He’s blue.
AHe’s my family deity, sir. He’s always blue.
Q3He’s the colour of the missing girls, Ajay.
Q4And these?
AThey are syringes.
Q5I am well aware of that, Mr MEHTA. I’m wondering what you’re doing with a fistful of them.
AThey are oral syringes, sir. That’s why they are orange. There is no needle. I use them for giving medicine.
Q6What sort of medicine?
AAntibiotics. I find it easier.
Q7Why not just use a medicinal measuring cup like the rest of us?
AThey gave them to me at the hospital.
Q8And this? [Holds up computer printout] This is a list of your ‘favourites’ we’ve printed out from your computer, Ajay, and by ‘favourites’ I mean websites you have deliberately tabbed for easy access. Can you read it?
AYes, sir.
Q9So what’s this website, Ajay?
ABarrington Hall, sir.
Q10And this one?
AAshbourne School for Girls?
Q11And these? Allow me, Ajay, allow me. QGS, BLC, Melbourne Ladies’ College. Are girls from these schools next on your list, Ajay?
APlease, sir, I can explain.
Q12You’re going to need to, Ajay. And quickly.
. . .
From: Celia Beasley CeeceeB@gmail.com
Wednesday 1 June 7:09 PM
Alice, you were right. They found Adeline dead, just like the others.
From: Celia Beasley CeeceeB@gmail.com
Thursday 2 June 4:07 PM
Alice, Alice, where are you?
We didn’t have class for the first two periods today. We just sat outside on the cold bricks and watched ants scurry along, as if a girl from school hadn’t died at all and we talked and talked. There’s a lovely girl called Bella Bennett with big dimples. I’ve never spoken to her properly, but she let me sit next to her and we tried to think of things we could do for Adeline’s family, while we passed round jumbo boxes of tissues.
This afternoon the school brought in counsellors and they said that when we feel sad about Adeline we should clench our fists and hold them over our hearts to remember her. The rest of the day we had class but no one really concentrated, even the teachers.
Tonight, Cleo and I went down to Adeline’s missing poster at our tram stop and put a little bunch of flowers from our garden. There were heaps there already – like a floral tumour swelling around the pole. I feel sick about everything. Sick for Adeline, sick for her parents and sick for little Carmella and every one of her ball-fisted friends. We did capital punishment in Religion and Life with Mrs Burnetti. There was all this stuff about how killing people is not right, but how killing another person as a punishment doesn’t make that first killing right. We talked about how wrong it was to hang Saddam Hussein and kill Osama bin Laden and I agreed with it all, but when I saw Adeline’s mum on the news looking so little and so sad I wanted to ask her what she wanted to do to Adeline’s killer. I don’t think she’d have felt the same way as Mrs Burnetti. Because me? I’d want whoever did that to Adeline Taranto stir-fried, sliced and diced.
Dad leaves for Fiji tomorrow and I know this trip is important, but I really want him to stay here. With Grandma. And maybe even Andrew. I just want all my family together under the same roof. Dad’s trip feels wrong.
CC x
From: Alice King Alicekingofthejungle@gmail.com Thursday 2 June 6:53 PM
Hiya CC
I’m here – definitely haven’t gone anywhere. Just not coping with this Adeline stuff and not sleeping well either. Sorry I’m not much of a support. Feel like something’s wrong with me. Like I’m floating above my life instead of being in it. Feels like I’m not in my own body or something.
Gotta go and force my mouth to eat.
Alice xx
From: Celia Beasley CeeceeB@gmail.com
Friday 3 June 7:14 PM
Oh Alice. I hope everything’s all right up there. It’s not much better here. I had to do the chicken ad this afternoon and I think I did muck it up, but it was accidental. I just wasn’t in the mood to parade around in feathers. Mum felt the same way, I could tell. Her fringe was stringy where she pulls it straight. When the director said he might have to call us back after he’d seen the footage, because they might not use it, Mum didn’t even look the least bit cross. She just told him we’re all still shaken by the news about Adeline Taranto and he agreed. I mean, I was standing there in the same uniform as the most recent dead schoolgirl and he said his niece is also at Ashbourne in the same year. I bet even more people claim they know Adeline or her family now that she’s dead. That happens. Fame through grief, Dad calls it.
School was weird today, too. The police came to speak to us and mentioned all the things you’d expect. But the officer said the killer might also be someone who has connections to or perhaps works with teenagers. They think he’s very smart and might disappear for periods saying he’s on a business trip or holiday. Anyway, the officer said that anyone with information should come and see them afterwards as they’d set up this tent on the oval. After assembly, I hung around the front of the tent and listened in case there was anything new, but the policewoman looked bored and cold and kept texting all the time.
Dad left for Fiji this morning and I gave him the biggest hug I could muster and just wanted to hold him so I could anchor him to the floor. He said that in light of the lost girls, we have to be grateful for what we’ve got and that he’d be back as soon as possible. He then spotted Mum’s mobile bill on the bench, which was $182 over her cap, and freaked about what he’s got.
This afternoon, Mum had someone in to check the burglar alarm so it can be armed when we’re inside and she also had special locks attached to the front and back doors which are called deadlocks and I said that that wasn’t very reassuring. Mu
m frowned and said it was in poor taste to make jokes at this time.
Grandma arrives tonight. Can’t wait to see her.
x
PS I’m sorry, I just reread this and while I tried to avoid mentioning Adeline, I see I’ve done nothing but! I know it upsets you so I really hope you don’t mind too much.
From: Alice King Alicekingofthejungle@gmail.com
Saturday 4 June 2:21 PM
That’s cool, CC. I love your emails. Really.
Can’t talk now, though.
Later,
Ax
From: Celia Beasley CeeceeB@gmail.com
Saturday 4 June 3:02 PM
Hi Alice
I was SO relieved to hear from you even if it was only short. My imagination is in overdrive at the moment.
It was hard to sleep last night because the house makes lots of noises and every time it creaked I thought the Cocoon Killer was coming up the hall and I had to hold my breath and lie really flat. We put the fold-up bed in Cleo’s room so that I can sleep without Cleo’s feet in my face and we left the hall light on all night. Grandma said it looks just like her dorm at boarding school. Jaime’s sleeping in the spare room with Grandma because she said Grandma “needed company”.
Grandma keeps smoking inside because she’s too nervous to go out and Mum’s all grumpy because the smoke sticks to the carpet and hangs off the curtains. Even though Grandma doesn’t do the drawback, she still has a voice like a truckie.
Okay, let’s take a break and discuss some other non-Adeline things. Deep breath.
***intermission****
Well, the director of the chicken ad emailed last night and the shoot mustn’t have been as bad as I thought, because he said he LOVED it. He’s that kind of man. So I don’t have to film it again. It comes out in about three weeks – same week as Jaime’s play. Terrific.
Tonight, Jaime came in and started going through the stuff on my dresser (she does that when she’s bored). She saw the photo you sent me and asked who you were. I shrugged and then Jaime said I was a loser for having a photo of someone I didn’t know in my room, picked up my brand new blue nail polish and stormed out. But I still didn’t tell her who you were and I won’t. She takes everything she wants and that includes my friends.