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Sharpe family murders

SOLVED2004Mornington, Victoria, Australia2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

In March 2004, John Myles Sharpe killed his wife, New Zealand-born Anna Marie Kemp, and their 20-month-old daughter, Gracie, at the family's home in Mornington, a semi-rural suburb south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Kemp was pregnant with the couple's second child at the time.

Sharpe killed Kemp on 23 March 2004 and their daughter several days later, then concealed and disposed of both bodies. In the weeks that followed, he told childcare staff and Kemp's family in New Zealand that his wife had left him for another man, using her phone and bank card to suggest she was still alive, sending a forged email to her family, and arranging for flowers to be delivered to his mother-in-law in Kemp's name.

Sharpe's public appeals for information about his "missing" family drew police suspicion. At the request of New Zealand Police, Victoria Police investigated the disappearances, interviewed Sharpe several times, and placed him under surveillance. He was arrested on 22 June 2004 and, after initially denying involvement, confessed to both killings. Investigators later recovered the victims' remains during an extensive search of a local landfill.

Sharpe pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria and, on 5 August 2005, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years, making him eligible for parole in 2037. Kemp and Gracie were buried in Dunedin, New Zealand, under Kemp's maiden name, with a memorial reference to their unborn son, Francis.

Key facts

Victims
Gracie Louise Kemp, Anna Marie Kemp
Date
2004
Location
Mornington, Victoria, Australia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1967-02-28

    John Sharpe born in Mornington, Victoria.

  2. 1994-10

    John Sharpe and Anna Kemp marry.

  3. 2002-08

    Daughter Gracie Louise Kemp is born.

  4. 2003

    Sharpe purchases a high-powered speargun and spear at a Mornington shop; couple buys house at 116 Prince Street, Mornington.

  5. 2003-11

    Anna Kemp becomes pregnant with the couple's second child.

  6. 2004-03-21

    Sharpe and family attend a nephew's birthday party; no tension observed.

  7. 2004-03-23

    Sharpe kills Anna Kemp with a speargun in their bedroom and later buries her in a shallow grave in the backyard.

  8. 2004-03-27

    Sharpe kills daughter Gracie with a speargun and later disposes of her body at the Mornington refuse transfer station.

  9. 2004-03-29

    Sharpe purchases duct tape, tarpaulins, and a chainsaw at a Bunnings hardware store in Frankston.

  10. 2004-03-30

    Sharpe exhumes and dismembers Kemp's body, disposing of remains and the chainsaw at the Mornington transfer station; sends forged email to Kemp's family in New Zealand.

  11. 2004-05

    Sharpe gives media interviews appealing for information about his wife and daughter's disappearance.

  12. 2004-05-20

    New Zealand Police request Victoria Police investigate the disappearance; Mornington police first speak with Sharpe.

  13. 2004-06-10

    Sharpe is interviewed again by police but maintains Kemp left voluntarily.

  14. 2004-06-22

    Sharpe is arrested and, during a second police interview, confesses to both murders.

  15. 2005-08-05

    Sharpe is sentenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period.

  16. 2037

    Sharpe becomes eligible for parole.

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People

  • Gracie Louise Kemp

    VICTIM

    20-month-old daughter of John Sharpe and Anna Kemp; killed by speargun on 27 March 2004.

  • Anna Marie Kemp

    VICTIM

    Wife of John Sharpe; killed by speargun on 23 March 2004 while pregnant with the couple's second child.

  • John Myles Sharpe

    CONVICTED

    Pleaded guilty to the murders of his wife and daughter; sentenced on 5 August 2005 to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period.

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

Places

Mornington, Victoria, Australia

-38.2201, 145.0356

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
In 2004, John Myles Sharpe killed his pregnant wife, Anna Marie Kemp, and their 20-month-old daughter, Gracie, at the family's home in Mornington, Victoria, Australia. He pleaded guilty to both murders and in 2005 was sentenced to two consecutive life terms with a 33-year non-parole period.
Where did the murders happen?
Mornington, Victoria, Australia.
Who was convicted?
John Myles Sharpe (Pleaded guilty to the murders of his wife and daughter; sentenced on 5 August 2005 to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Victoria

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICSharpe family murdersWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSSpeargun killer jailed for lifeThe Age · 2026-07-10