MURDERED IN PRIME OF A NEW LIFE
BRISBANE storeman Owen Crabbe spent his weekend away on the Gold Coast clubbing and shopping just like thousands of other visitors. But on Sunday, May 30, 1982, his naked and bashed body was found by cleaners in a luxury Surfers Paradise highrise apartment. His throat had been slashed with a long-bladed knife. The 57-year-old father had become a regular visitor to the Glitter Strip and spent his free time at Surfers Beachcomber after splitting from his wife and becoming openly and actively gay. Family said he was living life to the fullest. On his last visit to the highrise apartments he was given an off-peak 20 per cent voucher for spending more than two nights at the Hanlon St building.
So on May 29 the “jovial gent” known for his toupee and neat goatee beard arrived by bus at the Beachcomber and paid the $40 a night for his 27th-floor views. But the bargain deal proved fatal when, police believe, he died from a frantic but futile fight with a killer martial arts expert.
Police found Mr Crabbe in a pool of blood and Detective Inspector Kevin Dorries said at the time of the murder the unit was also splattered by blood but not all of it was Mr Crabbe’s.
“A bed had been overturned, furniture was knocked over and cushions were scattered around the room,” he said.
“There must have been a fierce struggle before he died.
“He (Crabbe) had numerous cuts on his head, a smashed nose, broken jaw and cheek, a cut windpipe and his trousers were tied around his neck.”
Police said the killer may have been a martial arts expert due to Mr Crabbe’s injuries being from kicks rather than punches.
Mr Crabbe was last seen alive at the Conexion Club about 12.30am on Sunday, May 30. The Friday before his death, he was spotted with a man believed to be in his mid-20s at Flashez nightclub in Surfers Paradise.
Police initially thought the younger man had become angered by Mr Crabbe’s sexual advances and murdered him.
A sketch of the prime suspect with shoulder-length, brown “fuzzy” hair was released to the public.
Detective Senior Constable David Nicoll, dealing with the case 10 years ago, said Mr Crabbe had arrived at the apartment alone but had made a booking for two people.
“He had told others that a new friend of his was going to be joining him at the Coast a day or so later,’’ he said.
“The identity of this friend remains unknown but investigators believe his name may be Michael, and we would still like to speak to this person, as we believe he may possess information that can assist the investigation.’’
It was later thought that the murder may have also been related to money. On the Thursday before arriving on the Coast, Mr Crabbe withdrew $665 but when his body was found days later, there was only 20c in the apartment.
A police spokesman said the investigation remained opened and encouraged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.