A family member of one of the Snowtown murder victims said he is “terrified” of being in the community with convicted felon Mark Ray Haydon, who was jailed for helping cover up one of Australia’s worst serial killings.
Haydon was one of four people arrested in 1999, when the bodies of some of the 11 victims were found in barrels, in a disused bank vault, in Snowtown, about 150km north of Adelaide in South Australia.
The killings became known as the “bodies in the barrels” murders because police discovered some remains in barrels filled with hydrochloric acid.
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While he was never found guilty of murder, Haydon was convicted for helping cover up the deaths of seven victims, including that of his wife, Elizabeth Haydon.
Haydon applied for parole in 2017, but was rejected. He applied again in 2021.
Now aged 65, he is set to be released as early as May without restrictions or supervision, leaving the family of his victims feeling anxious.
Serial killers John Bunting and Robert Wagner were given multiple life sentences for 11 murders, while James Spyridon Vlassakis, who pleaded guilty to four murders, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 26-years before parole.
The men preyed on people they suspected as being paedophiles, hom*osexuals, overweight or drug users, and cashed in on their property and welfare payments.
Ronald Lane was 11 years old when his uncle Barry Lane disappeared. Barry’s body was found in 1997.
Barry, also known as Vanessa Lane, was a paedophile who started a relationship with Wagner when Wagner was underage.
Bunting befriended both men and used them for information on other victims, until the killers turned on Barry.
Bunting claimed Barry was involved in the cover-up of one other murder, and he was a liability.
The day he was killed, Barry’s toes were pulled off with pliers, he was strangled and rolled in a carpet before being placed in a barrel.
Barry’s nephew, Ronald, said when the family heard Haydon would be released, they felt “terrified” for the community.
“He may say things to the right people (that) he’s probably sorry ... but deep down he might be like, ‘I just want to get out in the community to do whatever I want’,” Ronald said.
“He is better off just being locked up in there until whenever.”
Ronald said when he told his father about Haydon’s release, his father was speechless.
“Once you’ve done something, you’re going to do it again ... that’s the feeling I get,” Ronald said.
“The things he did were really brutal and horrifying ... I don’t think it’s right for him to be out in the community ... he needs to live with it for the rest of his life.”
Haydon showed signs of rehabilitation
While the families of the victims believe Haydon needs to continue to “pay for what he’s done”, Parole Board chair Frances Nelson said Haydon’s history in prison showed he is remorseful over his crimes.
In 2017, Haydon’s application for parole was rejected.
“He had been an easy prisoner to manage, his institutional behaviour was good, he was low security, his work ethic was reported (as) very good, there was no indication of substance abuse ... but he had been in prison for a very long time,” Nelson said.
“It’s challenging for people to move from a structured prison environment into the community, and we felt he needed a period of reintegration and re-socialisation.”
The parole board is set to interview Haydon again on February 20 following a second parole application.
The South Australian Government is also seeking advice on whether Haydon would be eligible for an extended supervision order.
Nelson said Haydon also previously mentioned he planned to volunteer or join a men’s shed when he was released.
“People can obviously rehabilitate, not everyone does, but families of the victims remember the person he was when he was convicted, I understand that.
“They don’t get information about any changes that have occurred and of course, they’re worried, I totally understand that .... but he will be released in May.”
The Parole Board reviews the cases of prisoners with life sentences annually.
When asked if Bunting and Wagner had rehabilitated, Nelson said she “doubted” both men were offered or interested in rehabilitation programs, given they had no prospect of release.
Nelson said Vlassakis will be eligible for parole in 2025.
