Did police find the Frankston Serial Killer? (Part 2/2) | Forensic Files

[Music] this is part 2 of the Frankston serial killer if you haven't listened to part
one yet please go back and do so before continuing we left last week just after the body of Natalie Russell was found
the third victim of the Frankston serial killer and police had the registered owner's details of a suspicious vehicle
that was seen on Sky Road at the time of Natalie's murder detectives are in a check and found that the vehicle
belonged to a man by the name of Paul Charles at Daniel they saw Paul and his car had been checked out before - he had
recently been spoken to by police sitting in his car alone at night in a nearby car park
[Music] Paul Dania was born on the 14th of April 1972 making him 21 years old at the time
he had four brothers and one sister Paul was the middle child Paul was average looking overweight with
a baby face clean-cut and was quietly spoken he basically looked the total opposite of what you would expect a
serial killer to look like his parents were Anthony and Marine Daniel they moved to Australia from the United
Kingdom in 1965 they lived in Sydney and Adelaide before settling in Melbourne Paul didn't mix well with the other kids
at school he struggled academically had low self-esteem and other kids tended to
stay away from him leaving him isolated from a young age he displayed a complete
lack of emotion about pretty much everything when he was 11 years old he cut the throat of his sister's teddy
bear when confronted about it he just smirked around that time the family's cat was found hanging in a tree with its
throat cut Paul blame the neighbours but his older brother noticed the blood on Paul's pocketknife
at 13 he was arrested for stealing a car he ended up getting a caution for that because he was a juvenile at 15 he was
charged with assault on a fellow student he was also caught staring through the window at one of his brother's
girlfriends who was undressing Paul worked a number of menial jobs he was sacked from all of them through a that
dishonesty all for being lazy he had an interest in knives and he liked going out on long walks by himself in the
middle of the night he met his girlfriend Sharon Johnson while working at a grocery store one of the seven jobs
he was sacked from Sharon was described as being very controlling demanding to know where he was at all times
Paul was said to be well and truly under Sharon's thumb Sharon was opinionated and often rude and outspoken Paul was
generally more reserved and softly spoken he had very few friends there was just Sharon and his family that he
mainly associated with Paul applied to join the police force in early 1993 he failed the physical due to being
overweight he knew the Frankston area well having lived there most of his life he spent a
lot of time in his teenage you smoking marijuana with his brothers at both Lloyd Park where Elizabeth Stephens was
found and along Taylor's Road where Deborah frame was found detectives paid Paul a visit at his Frankston North unit
in the afternoon of the 31st of July 1993 the day after Natalie Russell was killed Paul was at home with his
girlfriend Sharon they invited the detectives inside their small messy and barely furnished unit they asked all of
the usual background questions then got down to business asking Paul what he had
done and where he had been the day before Paul explained that he woke up about 7:30 a.m.
he drove Sharon to work then went to an ATM in Seaford and withdrew $40 he then drove around to a few car wreckers to
try and find a spare wheel for his old toyota he found one returned home worked on his car for a bit then went to a
different car records to try and find a new speedo cable he called in to visit his mother while he was here but she
wasn't home so he had a coffee with her boyfriend while he was out on this journey his car
overheated so he had to pull over he topped the water up and went for a quick walk while waiting for the radiator to
cool down he started the car but a short distance later had overheated again he pulled over on Sky Road checked under
the bonnet and noticed the hose had come loose he needed a screwdriver so he closed the bonnet and walked home to get
one also filling his water bottles up so he could top up the radiator again that
was his explanation for being on sky Road detectives wanted to know why he didn't knock on one of the doors of the
nearby houses to see if he could borrow a screwdriver and use their water Paul replied I don't like going into
other people's houses the detectives then wanted to know why he didn't go to the nearby golf course
Paul replied I didn't think of that Paul then explained the numerous scratches in
the larger day big cuts on his middle finger and thumb were caused by all the work he was doing on his car the day
before detectives have wanted to know what Paul was doing three weeks earlier the night Debbie frame disappeared
Paul surprised them when he remembered specifically that it was a Thursday night and when he put himself at Kanin
up drain station just around the corner from where Debbie frame disappeared Paul
had just placed himself at the scene of two murders instead of questioning detectives and
being suspicious as to why they are there asking him all these questions he sat back casually in the answered
them all almost as if he was enjoying what was going on he was calm and relaxed barely batting an eyelid Paul
agreed to go to the police station for a more formal interview he was taken to Frankston police station where he was
interviewed by sergeant rod Wilson and Senior Constable mark Wolfe from the Homicide Squad
the interview commenced at 9:20 p.m. on Saturday the 31st of July it was recorded on video they advised him he
didn't have to say anything and that he also had the right to speak to a lawyer Paul said he didn't want to exercise
either right he was happy to talk do may be given in evidence do you understand that yeah what is your age and date of
birth 21 years old I was born on the 14th of April 1972 okay are you an Australian citizen Tim are you currently
employed no when important present time what we'd like to do Paul is if you can just run through starting with yesterday
morning I got up in the morning about 20 to 8:00 7:30 20 way they painstakingly went back over the story he had given
them back at his unit detectives went over every detail there were contradictions and times weren't
matching up the explanation he was giving through his injuries wasn't making much sense either
[Music] coming down say hi scream or drive you noticed temperature gauge just started
go up too high so I just pulled over in squad drove on you and right across the road a golf course
and everything so I pulled up then I checked under the car doesn't bother seeing out the hose that come loose
when we saw you down and your flat this afternoon I noticed a number of cuts on your fingers yeah
please just time put your hands flat on the desk is that it just right up here this new heater is
along that sort of a cut just explain how you got that injury and when you've got that injury I got it yesterday right
and I was going on the car what they had you're saying it occurred well fan spins
this way so if I'm saying it was from the car yeah yeah fierce means that way the alternator sits there it and this
wires rained down underneath one of the radiator there's a white top on images for a white that I just recently from
and unless I mean when I put my hand down there I caught the fans and what did you have it running yeah - died when
you were checking down yet detectives asked him more questions about Debbie frame Paul stuck with his story putting
himself a cannon up train station roughly at the same time and just around the corner from where Debbie went
missing not only that there was the one night Paul failed to pick his girlfriend
Sharon up from work amazingly on the night Elizabeth Stephens was voted he told detectives who was out walking in
the rain he walked from his place to his mum's place then to Sharon's mom's place
she says he was looking for a spare car battery the area he was walking and Lane
worn right near Lloyd Park instead of giving himself an alibi all he was doing was placing himself at the scene of each
murder yesterday it was opposite the location where the body of Natalie Russell was found on the noggin Debbie
frame disappeared you walk down into Kendall railway station mister China walk back
another night business Stevens disappeared you walked in a very close proximity Deloitte Park on your way to
pick up this battery do you think that's fairly coincidental it is in all the all
the circumstances are you responsible for the deaths of any of these women [Music]
when they asked them specifically about Natalie Russell's murder Paul denied having anything to do with it but he
said he was aware of what happened because he drove past the scene are you aware that girl was found murdered in
Frankston here today being Saturday yeah and when did you first become aware that
well I've saw some police cars and everything when I was driving up Sky Road this
morning and SES workers so you saw SES workers and all that it's guy Road yes I asked what taped across the way are you
sure he's what mate yeah I saw you I saw that was what were you doing when you saw he was then asked if he knew
anything about the victims personally or how they died Paul report yeah Elizabeth Stevens had a
throat cut and the other girl Debbie frame had multiple stab wounds or something to her body and upper body up
here Paul pointed to the exact spot where Debbie's wounds were detective Wilson pounced why did you indicate the
exact area I was just pointing that's all but why did you point there it was just a lucky guess
[Music] when detectives asked if he would provide his fingerprints and a sample of
his blood and hair Paul agreed but he started to look very uncomfortable detectives paused the interview for a
coffee break and to wait for an officer to come and take his hair and blood samples the interview for a short time
did you anything else you won like a cup of coffee or what - or are you to cover
coffee especially during the break Paul went to the toilet the officer who escorted him to the
toilet was Detective Darren o'loughlin Paul saw that oh Lachlan was wearing a cross and he started to ask him about
religion the conversation then moved to DNA Paul wanted to know why they wanted his blood in hair had they found
something at the scene and if they had how long would it take to match our Lachlan said he couldn't answer any of
those questions he would have to check with detective Wilson Paul was silent for a short period of time before
looking at her Lachlan and saying okay I killed all three of them a Lachlan immediately alerted detective
Wilson and the interview was started again this time a Lachlan sat in on the interview as Paul seemed to take a
liking to him some of the audio clips Europe er here are taken from the interview and some are taken from a
walkthrough of the crime scenes that was done after the interview first they talked about the murder of Elizabeth
Stevens he spoke to Detective our Lachlan here and you were told today to have a lock
time that you were responsible for the murders of the three the three women is that correct just tell us in your own
words Paul what happened in relation to the death of Elizabeth students and they
want [Music] so get off the bus I walked up behind us it's not my least minute around whether
they are sluggish I got no heat right he I started checking out with flames and she passed
out after a while now pull the Apple knife then I dragged it away she was leaning down through the
tree branches on there buddy can you tell me why you attacked her on that not this
to sin just had the feeling my son what sort of feeling can you possibly describe when
you had this feeling just wanted just wanted to kill the gun he describes wasn't a real gun it was a fake pretend
gun he had made himself at home Paul also admitted to the attack on Rosa Toth the detective said what did you plan to
do with Rosa Paul said I was just gonna drag her in the park and kill her that's all he went
on to say that when Rosa ran away he caught the train from Seaford to Kenan oak and not long after getting off
the train he saw Debbie friend getting out of her car at the shop okay can you tell us what happened here the car was
sitting over there this is Debbie frames territory of a pulsar all right I was walking down this road here saw her jump
out of the car he jumped on the back side of the car and then Kyle was directly across the
road who said I could say a friend and saw the guy well of course you salute her is it at
that time just that guy feeling so what he can do then she came out what I lost cracks
down I could hear her footsteps coming close to the counter and she hopped in the car when she didn't see me in the
back straight into this wall Paul then describes killing frame before detailing what happened after dragged her that had
made her into the trays and places long against the fence break off two branches
of nutrients back into Karenina by adjusted to what too close wasn't too fun huh he buried Debbie frames per
salong the black track where he later attacked Natalie Russell he dug the purse up for detectives when they did
the walkthrough of the crime scenes later on when asked why he killed Debbie frame
his reply was I just wanted to Paul then details the murder of Natalie Russell what can you tell me about this went up
there early in that day and cut the holes in the fences what did you use the cup holder identifiers and I'm still
here and watched an athlete last walk around the corner through this whole waited behind a Tracy rod until I saw a
walk pass here and hitting that way when she got about 10 meters down the track here I came out of the fence as we're
walking along here mm-hmm are you still maintaining that distance behind her now is getting closer each
time I walked along the grass like this will make a sound so you would be heard on a leather strap
you will sanded it to pieces what was that usually it's Jana what was this one there's a strap on a pair of
the doctor those I overheard I grabbed a here around mouth left hand while this I
dragged us through here wonderful sound laziness before now boys wanted to kill seems mean sounds about right after
the murder he walked back down the track towards his car and he actually saw the
police they are checking in there he casually made his way out of the track and walked down sky road away from the
police they were that close as you can hear from the interviews Paul displayed zero emotion and zero remorse that never
changed he simply said he always wanted to kill and was just waiting for the right opportunity as the interview was
taking place other police were searching his flat they found a hat with blood on
it a large homemade knife and a long cord with two knots tied at each end the cord looked like it had hair on it
in his car they found the fake gun he had made another large knife and a pair of pliers each pair of pliers leaves a
distinctive mark much like a fingerprint and they were able to later match the pair of pliers they found in Paul's car
as being the ones used to cut the hole in the fence at the crime scene of Natalie Russell
[Music] remember back at the start of the story Donna vanes had a place breaking into
and her cats were killed a death threat was written in blood on her wall she then moved to a sister Trish's place and
Trish's neighbor Julia had also experienced a terrifying break-in where her throat was cut in all of her photos
and her engagement dress was slashed they were comforted by a male neighbor who said whoever did it was a sicko and
he would look out for them well that was Paul Daniel he lived next door to Tricia
vanes [Music] he admitted to committing both of those break-ins he freely said that he went to
Donna's place that night with the sole intention of killing her but she wasn't home so he killed her cats instead the
reason he gave he hated Donna and Tricia it was through Trisha his neighbor that
he met Donna and learned that she was home alone most nights that's why he targeted her the reason why he hated
them wasn't given Donna was so fearful that she moved out of her unit not realizing she moved next door to the
person responsible [Music] the feelings obviously weren't mutual because after Paul's arrest this is what
Tricia had to say he was the nicest and most considerate person I ever met I could not believe it when I heard the
news I still find it difficult to accept he was cool calm and collected he seemed
quiet and subdued and often kept to himself another one of Paul's neighbors had this to say I just can't believe
that the charges have been laid against him he seemed at the nicest of people Paul dénia was charged with three
murders Elizabeth Stevens Debbie frame and Natalie Russell he was also charged with
the abduction of Rosa Toth Paul pled guilty never trying to fight the charges while awaiting sentencing he was visited
by many doctors and psychologists trying to find answers what they found was that
Paul Daniel was a rare breed of serial killer murdering his victims at random without motive simply because he had
always wanted to he had always felt like killing and he could no longer suppress
his images he was able to describe his crimes without a flicker of emotion they found
him to be extremely emotionally disturbed but not legally insane he was diagnosed as having a sadistic
personality disorder demonstrated by a steady pattern of cruel demeaning and aggressive behavior since early
adulthood he appeared amused by the psychological and physical suffering he inflicted on
his victims there was in an interview with a psychologist that Dania mentioned his favorite movie was a horror movie
called The Stepfather and that's where he got the idea to slash his victims throats because it seemed defective then
you did try and claim that one of his older brothers had sexually abused him when he was younger but this claim was
strongly denied by the brother and by his entire family Denya was sentenced in Melbourne Supreme Court on the 20th of
December 1993 he was given three life sentences with no parole period the judge saying he was a danger to society
for which nothing could be done then you showed no remorse and his only regret appeared to be the fact he was arrested
11 days later Daniel lodged an appeal against his sentence on the grounds that it was excessive and that the sentencing
judge should have given him a minimum term of imprisonment the appeal was heard in the Supreme
Court in July 1994 three judges heard the appeal and they came to a majority verdict two to one overruling the trial
judge's decision they granted Dania a non-parole period of 30 years meaning he could be released in seven years time
when he's 51 years old when giving his non-parole period dénia said I will become a better person
and I will not riaf end that's my promise to God as well as to the people of Melbourne but he still never said
sorry for what he had done or showed a shred of remorse denny o'neil identifies as a woman and
will only answer to the name Paula Dania has applauded to have gender reassignment surgery at the taxpayers
expense that request was rejected Dania has also applauded the way makeup and other beauty products in prison that
request was also rejected with that in mind consider this piece of the police interview conducted with Daniel just
after the arrest can you explain why we have female victims Daniel I just hate them beg your pardon I hate them
is that particular girls or females in general general years later Daniel wrote this in a
letter from prison I'll put the pieces together like this a born feeling like the other sex be growing up interested
in female things see fearing adulthood as a male D having to suppress my feelings e committing these
crimes to try to destroy those feelings F living now with the acceptance of those feelings Danya continues I
committed those disgusting crimes not because I ever hated womankind but because I never really felt that I was
male unfortunately for me I used the word hate when police interviewed me because hate was the only emotion I
thought could correctly identify with my confused identity in 2012 Daniel was interviewed by police in
relation to four Prison rapes that had occurred on fellow inmates no charges ever followed from what I've been able
to find [Music] Danya had experienced the urge to kill from a young age just 14 years old and
had been following women around for years just waiting for the right time [Music]
you

Case 23: The Frankston Serial Killer (Part 2)

[Part 2 of 2]

Part 2 of the Frankston Serial Killer. At the end of part 1 police had found out who owned the suspicious vehicle parked on Skye Road at the time of Natalie Russell's murder. Will it get them anywhere though?

CREDITS

Narration – Anonymous Host Research and writing – Anonymous Host Production, scoring – Mike Migas Additional scoring – Andrew Joslyn

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Brief Summary

Paul Daniel confesses to murdering three women, showing no remorse, and reveals a troubled past and identity struggles.

Key points

Paul Daniel's Chilling Confession. During a police interview, Paul Daniel admits to killing three women without remorse.
The Neighbors' Shock. Neighbors of Paul Daniel express disbelief at his arrest, describing him as a nice person.
Psychological Evaluation Reveals Disturbing Traits. Psychologists found Paul Daniel to be emotionally disturbed but not legally insane.
Daniel's Confession. Daniel reveals his hatred for women during a police interview.
Identity Struggles. Daniel discusses his feelings of confusion regarding his gender identity.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I just wanted to kill.

Paul's chilling admission during the police interview.

20:57WatchNov 19, 2018

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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