The Backpack Killer: A New True Crime On Serial Killer Who Inspired Wolf Creek Is Coming

True crime fans, buckle up, because there's a new documentary on killer Ivan Milat, and it looks seriously gripping.

The doc, airing on Crime + Investigation, is called Ivan Milat: The Backpack Murderer, and it centres around the infamous Australian serial killer (who is thought to be the inspiration behind Wolf Creek).

Milat was jailed for life in 1996 after killing seven backpackers, dumping their bodies in the Belanglo State Forest, which is 90 minutes south of Sydney.

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The killings took place between 1989 and 1993, with the victims were from Germany, Britain and Australia - aged between 19 to 22.

They were commonly found stabbed, beaten to death and one was even decapitated.

Despite being sentenced to seven life sentences, Milat still maintained his innocence, giving a televised interview on Australian Story in 2004 in which he said he wasn't responsible.

The new documentary will delve into the recently deceased serial killer, following his passing in a maximum security prison Down Under.

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Throughout the episode, which will be narrated by Jason Donavan, we'll hear insight from Australia's top criminal investigative team, who believe the killer had many more victims than he went down for.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro and Forensic Anthropologist and Criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett are among those being interviewed - and they believe there could be as many as two dozen more victims.

Fans of Wolf Creek will be familiar with Milat's crimes, seeing as the 2005 film is largely thought to be based on the murder of his two British victims - Caroline Clarke, 21, and Joanne Walters, 22.

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The 2013 sequel, Wolf Creek 2, is also reported to be loosely based on the murder of his German victims, Simone Schmidl and Gabor Neugebauer, both 21, and Anja Habschied, 20.

He also famously killed Australian couple, Deborah Everist, 19, and James Gibson, 19.

Milat was eventually brought to justice when 24-year-old British backpacker Paul Onions escaped after a gun was pulled on him near Belanglo State Forest.

You can watch the new doc as part of Crime + Investigation's Death In Paradise series, which is running on Tuesdays from 10th August at 9pm.

Topics: True Crime, TV News, TV & Film, TV Entertainment

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

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