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Murder of Prue Bird

SOLVED1986Glenroy, Victoria, Australia2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Prue Bird was a 13-year-old girl from Glenroy, Victoria, who was raised primarily by her mother, Jenny Bird, and spent time with her grandmother in Western Australia. Her grandmother's partner had a criminal history and connections to figures involved in the 1986 Russell Street bombing. After he cooperated with authorities investigating that bombing, an associate allegedly threatened that harm could come to Bird if the cooperation continued.

On 2 February 1992, Bird disappeared from her Glenroy home, leaving behind an uneaten meal and a television left on. A family member who was home reported that she had been on the phone shortly before she vanished. The investigation was hampered by delays and by prejudice directed at Jenny Bird's same-sex relationship; the case was not upgraded to a murder investigation until 1996.

In 2012, Leslie Camilleri, already serving a life sentence for the 1997 Bega schoolgirl murders, confessed to killing Bird. His account was inconsistent, and the lead investigator doubted parts of it; one theory was that the abduction was connected to the family's cooperation against the Russell Street bombers, though this could not be proven. A witness testified to being held with Bird and hearing Camilleri discuss disposing of a girl in Glenroy. Justice Elizabeth Curtain dismissed many of Camilleri's claims as unreliable but found him responsible and added 28 years to his sentence. Several other people had been investigated as possible suspects before Camilleri's confession, but no charges were laid against them, and Bird's remains have never been recovered.

Key facts

Victims
Prue Bird
Date
1986
Location
Glenroy, Victoria, Australia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1986

    Russell Street Police Headquarters bombing occurs; Paul Hetzel later cooperates with authorities and testifies against bomber Craig Minogue.

  2. 1988

    Prue Bird attends therapy following disturbing childhood incidents.

  3. 1991

    Bird lives in Leonora, Western Australia, with her grandmother, Paul Hetzel, and Maurice Marion; her therapist expresses concern about possible sexual abuse. She returns to Melbourne later in the year.

  4. 1992-02-02

    Prue Bird disappears from her home in Glenroy, Victoria.

  5. 1996

    Bird's case is upgraded from a missing persons matter to a murder investigation.

  6. 2012

    Leslie Camilleri confesses to killing Prue Bird while serving a life sentence for the Bega schoolgirl murders.

  7. 2013

    Jenny Bird speaks at Camilleri's sentencing; Justice Elizabeth Curtain dismisses much of Camilleri's confession as unreliable and adds 28 years to his sentence.

  8. 2019-05

    Craig Minogue is charged with 38 offences, including abduction by force and aggravated rape, relating to incidents shortly before the 1986 Russell Street bombing.

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People

  • Prue Bird

    VICTIM

    13-year-old girl who disappeared from Glenroy, Victoria, on February 2, 1992, and was later confirmed murdered; her remains have never been found.

  • Leslie Camilleri

    CONVICTED

    Confessed in 2012 to killing Prue Bird; convicted and had 28 years added to his existing life sentence by Justice Elizabeth Curtain, who deemed parts of his confession unreliable.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Glenroy, Victoria, Australia

-37.6833, 144.9167

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Prudence "Prue" Bird, a 13-year-old girl from Glenroy, Victoria, disappeared on February 2, 1992. Her family's ties to the 1986 Russell Street bombing complicated the investigation for years. In 2012, Leslie Camilleri, already serving a life sentence for the Bega schoolgirl murders, confessed to killing her, though his account was inconsistent and her remains have never been found.
Where did the murder happen?
Glenroy, Victoria, Australia.
Who was convicted?
Leslie Camilleri (Confessed in 2012 to killing Prue Bird; convicted and had 28 years added to his existing life sentence by Justice Elizabeth Curtain, who deemed parts of his confession unreliable.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Victoria

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Prue BirdWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSPolice to interview killer over cold caseABC News (Australia) · 2026-07-10