Murder of Isla Bell
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| Murder of Isla Bell | |
|---|---|
| Location | Dandenong, Victoria, Australia |
| Date | October 2024 |
Attack type | Homicide |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victim | Isla Bell (aged 19) |
| Perpetrator | Unknown |
Isla Bell (born 22 October 2004) was a 19-year old Australian woman from Melbourne who went missing in October 2024. On 19 November, human remains were discovered at a rubbish tip in Dandenong, which are believed to be Bell's remains.[1]
Disappearance and death
[edit]Bell was last seen leaving her Brunswick home on Friday, 4 October around 6pm.[2] According to ABC News, she met an older man in a St Kilda East apartment on 5 October. Around midnight 7 October she sent a Snapchat message to a friend saying she had found "the best Russian sugar daddy" who had saved her from "sex traffickers" and given her gifts. CCTV footage captured her being assaulted by the man, and later him engaging in "extensive cleaning" of his apartment.[3]
According to The Age, her body was then transported in a fridge to various spots across Melbourne's southeast until the fridge was placed in a recycling centre in Clayton. There, another individual (who discovered the remains) moved the fridge to the street, where it eventually ended up in the Dandenong rubbish tip.[4] According to The Guardian, "[t]here had been no activity on Bell’s bank or social media accounts and her phone had not pinged to any telecommunication towers."[5] Her disappearance was covered in both domestic and international news.
Aftermath
[edit]Isla Bell's family spoke publicly at the Walk Against Family Violence in Melbourne on November 22, 2024 to a crowd of over 5000 marchers.[6][7] Vigils continued in Melbourne for over three weeks after the discovery of Bell's corpse and mourners using red and orange ribbons to memorialize Bell in street art.[8] A December 7, 2024 public vigil had been planned for Bell but was canceled and held in secret due to alleged threats of violence from men.[8][9] As of March 2025, her family has continued to advocate for change to stop violence against women in Australia which was noted in The Age.[10] The court date for the trial of Bell's alleged murderer was set for March 2025. On March 26 the trial was delayed by 11 weeks after a request from the accused.[11]
See also
[edit]- Femicide
- List of solved missing person cases
- List of unsolved murders
- Murder of Aya Maasarwe
- Murder of Eurydice Dixon
- Murder of Jill Meagher
References
[edit]- ^ "Remains found at waste management facility in search for missing teenager". www.9news.com.au. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Two men charged and remains located as detectives investigate the disappearance of Isla Bell". www.police.vic.gov.au. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Police allege the fatal bashing of Isla Bell was captured on CCTV". ABC News. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Pearson, Erin (20 November 2024). "Murdered, stuffed in a fridge and driven across Melbourne. What police allege happened to Isla Bell". The Age. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "'I could not protect you': mother pays tribute to Melbourne teenager Isla Bell after man charged with murder and remains found". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 20 November 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Hassett, Kate (24 November 2024). "One Is Too Many: Honouring The Women Lost To Men's Violence". marie claire. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Roulston, Amy (22 November 2024). "'A world where women are disposable': Isla Bell's family grieves allegedly murdered teen at violence against women march". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Morgan, Cassandra (11 December 2024). "Street art, red ribbons and new charity honour Isla Bell". The Age. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Hui, Jin (5 January 2025). "The fight against gendered violence in 2024". Lilydale Star Mail. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Tuohy, Wendy (15 March 2025). "'It's a widespread, toxic culture': Isla Bell's mother calls for justice". The Age. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Beatty, Liam (26 March 2025). "Update on case for man accused of murder of Isla Bell in Melbourne". Retrieved 26 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
- 2020s in Melbourne
- 2024 in Victoria (state)
- 2020s missing person cases
- 2024 deaths
- 2024 murders in Australia
- Dandenong, Victoria
- Deaths by person in Australia
- Female murder victims
- Formerly missing Australian people
- Missing person cases in Australia
- Murder in Melbourne
- Violence against women in Australia
- Women in Melbourne