The “Lesbian Vampire Killer”: The Murder That Shocked Australia
24 March 2026

The “Lesbian Vampire Killer”: The Murder That Shocked Australia

The StickyBeak

About

In October 1989, a brutal killing on the banks of the Brisbane River shocked Queensland.

Within days, newspapers around the world were running the same chilling headline: “The Lesbian Vampire Killer.”


But how did a tragic crime become a global media sensation?


In this episode of The StickyBeak, Monika O’Hanlon revisits the infamous case of Tracey Wigginton and the murder of Edward Baldock — exploring the events of that night, the rumours that followed, and the headlines that turned a shocking crime into one of Australia’s most sensationalised stories.


This episode looks beyond the label to examine how media narratives can shape public perception — and how some headlines take on a life of their own.


Listener discretion advised.


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