Australian True Crime: Shortcut — The Wollongong Murders

Podcast: Australian True Crime
Host: Meshel Laurie (Bravecasting)
Guest: John Souter Linton (Author of "Bound by Blood")
Release Date: August 10, 2025

Overview: Darkness in Wollongong's "Normal" Suburbs

This episode explores the infamous Wollongong murders of the late 1990s, focusing on the brutal killings perpetrated by Mark Valera, the subsequent murder of Valera's father, and the tangled web of allegations, family trauma, media speculation, and the community’s reckoning with evil in its midst. True crime author John Souter Linton discusses his research into the case, unpacking the facts versus rumors, the complex motivations behind the crimes, and the devastating impact on the victims' families in a town that thought itself safe and ordinary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Events and the Central Murders (04:46 - 05:59)

• The case centers on two especially brutal murders in Wollongong in 1998:
  • Frank Arkell, former Mayor of Wollongong, murdered while awaiting trial for alleged child sexual abuse.
  • David O'Hearn, a local shopkeeper, killed in a similarly savage manner; he also happened to be gay, and unfounded media speculation conflated his murder with abuse allegations.
• Mark Valera, only 19 at the time, confessed to both murders.

"At the time of his death, the man once known as Mr Wollongong stood accused of being a member of a pedophile ring. He was awaiting a court date when he was brutally murdered by 19 year old Mark Valera. It was Valera's second murder in as many weeks." — Host (00:41)

• The episode highlights the damaging assumptions made about the victims, particularly O'Hearn, based on unproven links to Arkell and rumors of a "pedophile ring."

"[The O'Hearn family] suffered terribly, didn't they? From the insinuations that were made in the media ... there were a lot of assumptions about David Ahern being involved in a pedophile ring. And worse than assumptions, there were news stories." — Host (05:04)

2. Motive, Media, and the "Pedophile Ring" Shadow (05:34 - 06:38)

• John discusses the lack of evidence connecting O'Hearn and Arkell, despite widespread public and media acceptance of their supposed ties.
• The case illustrates the harm caused by baseless speculation and the media’s eagerness to connect crimes to salacious rumors.

"There’s been no evidence, no evidence at all to show any connection, any likelihood that O’Hearn and Arkell knew each other." — John Souter Linton (05:59)

3. The Nature of the Crimes and Valera’s Obsession (06:38 - 07:29)

• Linton emphasizes the brutality and almost ritualistic nature of the killings, describing them as “crimes of sadistic pleasure.”
• Valera’s obsession with serial killers and his creation of lists of potential local victims parallels disturbing patterns seen in international cases.

"Mark Valera had an incredible interest, fascination, obsession to call it, with serial killers ... listing them ... presumably who he would eventually go out and murder. And that was his quest." — John Souter Linton (06:38)

4. Police Investigation and Valera’s Confession (07:29 - 09:29)

• Valera confessed calmly to the murders, offering little in the way of a coherent motive beyond vague anger and antipathy.
• His admissions included a lack of personal connection to O’Hearn and a simple dislike for Arkell.

HOST: Is there any reason why you did it?
JOHN: "I was angry that day. But ... No particular reason? No." (08:54–09:05)

HOST: What made you decide to go to [Arkell's] house that afternoon?
JOHN: "I had in my mind that I wanted to kill him because didn’t like him." (09:21)

5. The Abuse Defense and Family Dynamics (09:29 - 10:15, 13:35 - 15:10)

• At trial, Valera’s defense claimed long-term sexual abuse by his father, Jack Van Creville, as a mitigating factor.
• Van Creville’s friends disputed this, recalling Valera as “quite doting on his dad” in childhood.
• Valera’s sister, Belinda, consistently supported her brother’s account, though she later admitted she had no memory of being abused.
• The extent to which these claims shaped perceptions and judicial outcomes is discussed.

"Belinda did believe her brother, irrespective, although she didn’t have any memory of anything that may have happened." — John Souter Linton (13:43)

6. Murder of Jack Van Creville and Role of Belinda (13:43 - 16:08)

• Belinda and her ex-boyfriend (and Valera’s friend) Mark Schreiber conspired—or at least discussed—Van Creville’s death.
• Schreiber murdered Van Creville with inside knowledge of the house; police deduced his involvement almost immediately.
• The questionable extent of Belinda’s involvement meant she was charged with "soliciting to murder" rather than murder itself.

"It took police all of like five minutes to work out that it was [Mark] Schreiber." — John Souter Linton (15:05)

• The attack was meticulously planned: the killer entered through a conveniently unlocked window, and Belinda's daughter was moved from her room that night.

HOST: "The window was left open. It seems very much like they’d worked this plan out together."
JOHN: "That’s certainly what it looks like. But police were only able to prove that Mark did it himself." (15:24–15:33)

7. Legal Outcomes and Aftermath (10:23 - 10:55, 16:08 - 18:53)

• Valera was sentenced to life without parole—making him one of the youngest in NSW to receive such a sentence.
• Schreiber confessed without resistance; the crime was seen as born from loyalty and rage against abuse rather than self-interest.
• Belinda was never convicted of the murder itself but faced charges for soliciting.

"He made no contest, you know, not even an exception to the contest. Like with Mark Valera, the reason he went to trial was because he had a defense. ... Whereas Schreiber is like, nah, I did it simple." — John Souter Linton (18:13)

HOST: "I just did it."
JOHN: "Yep, I just did it. And you know, I'm a bad guy and you can put me away." (18:33–18:34)

8. The "Normal" Family and Community Responses (19:33 - End)

• Linton’s book "Bound by Blood" is praised for its humane portrayal of the case and its exploration of how "normal" families encounter and reckon with profound tragedy and violence.
• The community’s shock and the enduring pain for victims’ families are foregrounded.

"Everybody considers themselves that way." — Host (19:28), referring to the universal belief in being a "normal" family prior to tragedy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media Damage:
  "It was just horrendous. No, distressing. Seems like an understatement."
  — Host and John Souter Linton, on rumors affecting the O’Hearn family (05:52–05:56)

• On Motive:
  "I had in my mind that I wanted to kill him because didn’t like him."
  — Mark Valera, quoted by Host (09:21)

• On Obsession:
  "Mark Valera had an incredible interest ... with serial killers, and had a book ... about American serial killers ... and in that book Valera had actually made lists ... presumably who he would eventually go out and murder."
  — John Souter Linton (06:38)

• On Community Perception:
  "Everyone says, oh, we’re just a normal family. How could this happen to us?"
  — Host (19:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:46–05:59: Rumors and media damage to O'Hearn family
• 06:38–07:29: The sadistic nature of the crimes and Valera's serial killer obsession
• 07:29–09:29: Police investigation, confession, and Valera’s motives
• 13:35–16:08: The murder of Jack Van Creville, family roles, Belinda’s involvement
• 16:08–18:53: Legal aftermath for Schreiber and Belinda
• 19:28–19:37: Reflections on the "normal" family narrative
• Throughout: John Souter Linton’s analysis and perspectives

Tone and Language

The discussion is deeply empathetic, straightforward, and at times blunt. The host and guest refrain from sensationalizing, instead focusing on the real pain of families and the broad societal implications of these crimes occurring in ordinary suburbs. Quotations and exchanges reflect candid exploration punctuated by moments of disbelief and sadness.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking an in-depth, structured understanding of the episode’s core themes and discussions.