Brett Peter Cowan

Brett Peter Cowan
Born (1969-09-18) 18 September 1969 (age 55)
Bunbury, Western Australia
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Conviction(s)2014:

1994:

1989:
Indecent treatment of children under 16
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 20 years (August 2031)
Details
KilledDaniel James Morcombe
Injured2

Brett Peter Cowan[1][2] (born 18 September 1969) is an Australian murderer and serial child rapist. He was convicted of the murder of Daniel Morcombe, a 13-year-old boy who disappeared from the Sunshine Coast on 7 December 2003.[3] His abduction led to an eight-year investigation involving various suspects. As a result of these investigations, Cowan led undercover police to a potential burial site. [4] He was charged with the murder that same month, and Morcombe's remains were discovered days later on 17 August. Cowan was sentenced to life imprisonment, (being eligible for parole in 2031) on 13 March 2014 in a trial that attracted worldwide attention.[5][6][7] Cowan had two previous convictions for sexually abusing children, the earliest dating back to 1987.[8][9]

The investigation into Morcombe's disappearance became the highest profile crime case in Queensland's history.[10]

  1. ^ "Daniel Morcombe's alleged murderer named". ABC News. 16 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Targeted search for Daniel's remains". Brisbane Times. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Tears for Daniel". Crime Investigation Australia. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  4. ^ "From Perth sting to guilty verdict: How WA cops helped catch Daniel Morcombe's killer". Perth Now. 13 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Daniel Morcombe's killer sentenced to life, with no parole for 20 years". The Guardian. 14 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Brett Peter Cowan found guilty for murdering Daniel Morcombe". The Guardian. 13 March 2014.
  7. ^ Calligeros, Marissa (14 March 2014). "Daniel Morcombe's murderer Brett Peter Cowan sentenced". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Daniel Morcombe murder: Brett Peter Cowan guilty of killing Queensland teen". ABC News. 13 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Daniel Morcombe murderer Brett Peter Cowan gets at least 20 years' prison sentence". The Australian. 14 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Daniel Morcombe verdict: Brett Cowan, portrait of a monster". The Age. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.