Gruesome story of body found tied to crucifix in harbour that still leaves police baffled 24 years later
Police issued a facial reconstruction of the man and a $100,000 reward at the time, but nobody came forward with information
THE identity of a man found by fishermen in a river tied to a crucifix still remains a mystery for police nearly a quarter of a century later.
The grim discovery of the body – named Rack Man – wrapped in plastic and tied to a steel-framed cross was made by fisherman in a river northwest of Sydney.
Forensic scientists are still baffled 24 years later as to who he is and more importantly, who was responsible.
The mystery is one of Australia’s most gruesome according to .
A crew of fishermen set out on August 11, 1994, on The Lady Marion trawler to cast nets and fish for squid in the mouth of the Hawkesbury.
As they lifted their net they discovered their rope anchored by a steel frame.
Speaking at the time, the boat’s captain Mark Peterson said: “As I pulled it in, I saw there were plastic bags tied to it, and then I saw a bone stuck out of one of the bags.”
A body, wrapped in plastic, was tied to a steel-framed crucifix. Wires and ropes around the torso, wrists and neck bound the remains to the cross.
Evidence suggested the crucifix had been custom-build for the man and the frame matched his wingspan perfectly.
Scientists at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Glebe estimated the body had been submerged for somewhere between six and 12 months.
A facial reconstruction based on his bone structure was issued to the media and a vague description of him being of European extraction, 160-166cm tall, aged between 21 and 46 wearing a polo shirt and sweat pants.
A $100,000 reward was offered but no information ever came forward.
The body remains refrigerated in a Sydney morgue.
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