Rural Road Attack or Conspiracy? | Peter Falconio Case Analysis 

Dr. Grande, I love how you provide a tension release valve during the distressing yet, very interesting details of these disturbing cases. Your wonderfully, dry sense of humor breaks the tension at random intervals and I can't help but quietly, smile. Thank you.

"Given his character nobody can really blame his DNA for trying to make a break for it" Ha ha ha! Dr. Grande does the best stand up comedy while sitting down. He does sit down stand up comedy! Well, you know what they say about laughter being the medicine ....

I really hate when people go “oh this person made it up because they’re not upset enough”. There’s no right or wrong way to react to trauma. Some people go into shock and dissociate, some people deal with it with humor, and some people have the allegedly “””correct””” response of crying and freaking out.

Thankyou Dr Grande! I am one of the people who requested that you do a video on this. I am a clinical psych from Australia. Thanks so much for your time in researching and putting out this video.

This case was huge here. The press treated the girl appallingly. They got the guy in the end. Horrible man. What memories she must have 👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

Well done on pronunciation of Melbn, Dr Grande.😊 Edit: This happened in outback Australia, not rural. Not stopping to help someone on the side of the road in the outback is unthinkable because the environment is so harsh. Huge distances between towns, extreme heat, lack of water etc. It would be similar to a ship on the ocean not helping a sinking ship.

Dr.Grande explain very well ,English is my 4th language and I can understand Dr.Grande speech clearly thank you for your hard work.

I totally agree. They were a young couple having a holiday in a very deserted area. It can be incredibly hot during the day out there so night driving to them probably seemed a reasonable thing to do. Most Aussies on the other hand would find it risky with the chance of hitting roos and cattle plus other native species much increased. Being alerted to a problem with their vehicle would also seem relatively risk free and remember there is no where that they could pull into that had other people or even lighting out there. Those roads are very thinly travelled at night or even during the day. The press here show mostly gutter press behaviour and she would have been suffering from possibly survivor guilt and having to constantly repeat her story over and over to the police and press etc. No wonder she stopped reacting dramatically in the face of all that dogging and questioning. Conspiracy theories were certainly gathering momentum. The truck driver never doubted her and he saw her first and freshest and neither did the people he took her to for help who saw her straight from the trauma. I would take their word over the word of latecomers and gossips. There was questions about why she didn’t see Bradley clearly from her vehicle or what happened at the back of the van. Anyone who has driven out there will tell you, there is no ambient light, nothing like you would see in a town. It can be pitch black and then those vans are high with small high back windows. If only she had Supermans ability to see through steel!

I remember this case, it was all over the media, even here in New Zealand. You managed to distill this complex case really elegantly Dr Grande. I found it annoying that the press expected the young female victim to "act" a certain way. Some people just shut down emotionally to protect themselves after something terrifying happens.

As an Aussie and this being such a big case in Australia at the time, I’m so interested to hear your analysis.

She *was* beaten to a pulp. I employed her best friend in Australia. The day this hit the news, she rang in sick to fly to NT to be with her. Joanne was simply, so traumatised she was shutdown. It would've been your worst nightmare.

Dr Grande, love your channel. As an Australian I have to point out that 100kms from a major city is actually in the middle of nowhere. It is common for tourists to hire/buy crappy vans, the attraction is in the fact that you can pull over and sleep anywhere. There are designated ‘rest areas’ that punctuate all major highways in the country. So driving at night the biggest risk is hitting wildlife, especially kangaroos as they congregate beside roads from dusk to dawn to benefit from any dew. So this couple did nothing out of the ordinary. Also, road trains are actually semis hauling many trailers. There are long distances to cover and in the Northern Territory there was, at the time, no speed limits. Finally, Australians are usually friendly and helpful and pose little risk to anyone. We are likely to stop and help anyone on the road, particularly in outback areas where the risk to travellers is mostly in being isolated in the heat. This is another reason to drive at night. My rule of thumb for travellers in general would be to not pull over but return or persist to the nearest petrol station/town. Having said that, locals would definitely pull over if another vehicle was indicating their was something going on with your car or issues with the road ahead. Finally, Australian has some deeply entrenched misogyny, more evident in rural areas - they blame women and are highly suspicious thereof. The Azaria Chamberlain case is the best example of national condemnation of a woman for infantacide. She was condemned by the court of public opinion, harshly, and went to jail for years before being exonerated completely. Methyl Streep infamously portrayed her in the film Evil Angels, with probably the worst ever Australian accent on film. A rare departure for her. Bradley Murdoch is a scumbag, not for running drugs, but for sexual assault - murderers often start out as rapists.

Thanks for the insightful analysis again, Dr Grande. Another point to note about Joanne’s behaviour is that she was heavily sedated in her first media appearance about the case, and subsequently suspicious of our (often biased) media.

G'day, from Australia! Our press are ruthless. They treated her the same way, that they treated Lindy Chamberlain. Given that the temperature can reach almost 50c, during the day, in that area, night driving may have been a wise decision, in a vehicle without Aircon. That said, I wouldn't stop for anyone, on those roads.

Remember that Dingo story? The Aussies have a track record of making the Victims seem like the criminals. Later it was found out that Baby really did get attacked by Dingos or Dogs of some sort. Where's the motive for her to do a murder? None.

This reminds me of the opening lyrics of Down Under by Men at Work: "Traveling in a fried-out Kombi On a hippie trail, head full of zombie". We call them Kombis in South Africa too.

Thank you Dr Grande, for covering this tragic event. It was the biggest man hunt in the Northern Territory. A lot of people found Joanne Lees, too be a polarizing woman, some people, think she did it, while other people believe she's innocent. In my opinion i believe Bradley Murdock was guilty. I agree with everything you said at the end of your analysis. Thank you Dr Grande. Brilliant analysis and sad topic.

Wow! I recall seeing an interview with Joanne years ago and thought that she was involved by the way the story had been presented... Until watching this, I was unaware that the murderer had been caught and convicted. I'm glad that there was justice for Peter and vindication for Joanne.

Dr. Grande's DNA jokes were hilarious. I don't think there is any subject where he can't find humor. Well done!

I dated a girl when I was in high school and her parents owned a tavern/country store located in a very rural area. The name of establishment was “The Red Rooster.” I consider this part of a vast conspiracy of inter dimensional deadly rural road houses. I believe I also witnessed a new bouncer at the tavern who looked suspiciously like Patrick Swayze.

Thank you for your thoughtful work. You always offer an interesting perspective on difficult topics. Glad to have found your channel, and I wish you well. ✌❤🍺

Thanks Dr. Grande. Ive never heard of this case before, interesting. I hope someday Mr. Falconios body will be recovered.

Dr Grande, I have watched every video (even ones that you AREN'T diagnosing anyone, but potentially diagnose multiple people...) And, now your videos drop right before my bed time.

What an awful and terrifying case, dnd so intense to listen to because I've never heard of this one before. Your advice at the end was extremely important! Your content is just incredible, Dr. Grande!!

Aircooled Kombis overheat badly .. so night driving makes sense.. Australia is quite laid crimes like this are generally rare .. so risk factor is low and its basically a tradition to drive around Aus in a kombi.

I will say though Dr Grande that it is, or maybe was now, an unwritten code of the outback and rural areas that you stop for anyone who needs help. The outback is desolate, tough and cruel. Many tourists don’t realise how tough ( nor do some stupid Australians;. It’s blazing hot an if people are without water,,they’ll die. You never, ever , deviate from the main road. It can be fatal. And people just don’t get how far away the next town can be. Close in country Australia is 200 k’s. One must be careful 👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

Fantastic pronunciation of Australian cities, doc! Well done! And again a great video, I remember this case being all over the news at the time

to be honest i consider trusting police with assesing someones emotional state after a traumatic experience is like trusting a priest in his knowladge of sexual relationships

oh and by the way Dr Grande I love your sense of humor don't change a thing your sense of humor is spot-on and if somebody doesn't get it that's their problem your sense of humor is so subtle and calmly delivered

Famous last words: "Let's go to Australia " Greetings from Sydney 🇦🇺 Edit: night is the best time to drive because of the heat, and "nowhere" is what exists between any two places in Australia.

Hey! Happy St. Patrick's Day, Dr. O'Grande!! ☘☘☘🧶🇮🇪💚 And to everyone else, too! 🇮🇪 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

Dr. Grande, I’m proposing that you subtly and incrementally increase the space between “in the description” and “for this video” in your intro. You leave me on the edge of my seat every time but you always come through.

Excellent analysis Dr. Grande 👏 DNA doesn't lie. Sad that this couple 💑 was so naive that they would pull over for a stranger in the middle of the night 🌙 😪 😞

I am an Australian - this is a curious story....set in the vast isolated Australian outback.... Much like that of Paddy Moriaty who vanished from an isolated outback settlement of about 10 people.

I've watched many of your videos and am subscribed, I've always been impressed by how thoroughly you seem to research on the details. Here's my 1st chance to pick at you, at 8:08 you noted on the very little amount of blood at the scene and a lack of a blood trail. If when someone is shot in a manner the heart stops right away such as in the heart there can be almost no blood at all, just a little red circle around the entry wound. If the heart isn't beating then the blood won't be pumped out.

I’m certainly not going to judge Joann for how she reacted. She’s a survivor who is responsible for getting justice for Peter and making sure that Bradly Murdoch can’t hurt anyone else. Thanks again for the great video. These cases are certainly tragic but you do a great job making your content informative, entertaining, and respectful to the victims.

That is always a problem when people get criticized for not being sad or happy enough. Thank you Dr Grande ...I find you intriguing.

always fair and respectful in your reviews.. your sense of dry humor shoud be exposed as something you're king of here on the Internet! Lol I love your channel and its content and many hugs from a chilly Sweden !

Joanne Lees is said to be living in a two-bedroom terrace house in her hometown of Huddersfield. She says she lives an isolated life as a social worker at the Directorate for Children and Young People for Kirklees Council. She has had various jobs - including working at a travel agency and supporting the disabled after returning to college to study sociology. The 46-year-old has never married or had children following the tragic death of her boyfriend. In 2017, she flew back to Australia to where her boyfriend was shot to the scene of the shooting for an Australian television show special. She wanted to “bring him home” as she returned. During the search, she discovered that she had a "mirror-image" step-sister called Jess. Jess is the daughter of her estranged Australian dad. In 2017, Lees said she wanted to apply to become an Australian citizen.

A road train here in Australia is Not a Tractor, it's a truck pulling several trailers. Get it right Todd

Amazing how often people determine how people are feeling by outward indicators. If you saw me during an anxiety attack you would think I am fine outwardly, and due to it many think it isn't happening. I remember how much this case blew up in Australia.

Wow. I hadn't heard of this one. That's amazing the victim was brave enough to describe that horrible man.

Spot-on pronunciation of those Australian cities, Dr Grande!

Nothing these poor people did including the pot is unusual in Australia, it's a big country, mostly desert and the size of the USA, you won't get far driving in daylight hours only.

I just decided go to sleep, check my notifications and saw new video from Dr. Grande ...... I think I wait to sleep , just one more video from Dr. Grande then to bed I promise 😁❤️

Nice timing. Just got home from work!! Thanks Dr. Grande for all your hard work!

Thank you for pronouncing ‘Melbun’ correctly. Greetings from downunder

"Wolf Creek, Falconio, Used Cars": In terms of imagery I would suggest viewing both Wolf Creek and Wolf Creek: 2, as well as the TV series starring the outstanding actor John Jarratt. Jarratt seems to understand how most of us picture psychopathy. These behaviors include bizarre pauses while speaking, the use of tone of voice and eye movement to bully and demean others, and the type of logic you will discover after watching an army of monkeys using keyboards to send emails. The usual tropes are used: underground Sadeian chambers without windows, older cars stranded within a vast, empty landscape, lack of orientation, confusing jokes that serve to satisfy the yearnings of sadists, and so forth. Dr. Grande kind of suggests this when he asks, "Why were they driving in the middle of nowhere at night and in the cold..." Dr. Grande doesn't exploit this image in the proper manner. If we zoom out and look at the larger picture, disregarding maps, history, and tentative scientific descriptions of our environment, we find that all of us are "driving in the middle of nowhere" and most of the time "it's night and cold." As Petro Andryushchenko says, after the bombing of Mariupol, "Death is everywhere." Or consider Carrie Lam's comments in Hong Kong as they face a new COVID outbreak: "Our crematoria are working day and night." Thank you Petro and Carrie, and thank you dear reader for reading.

I can't remember if I applauded your 1million subs milestone🤔 So congrats Dr. Grande, you deserve it! My response to the video: I can't stand when people believe others are guilty because they don't seem "sad" enough!? Like what is enough? Her husband was murdered and she was assaulted and almost abducted🤬 How was she supposed to act??

It amazes me that Peter stopped in the middle of nowhere for a stranger. There may be more to the story but we will never know. If Joanne doesn't ever acknowledge that she knew the killer, this will certainly be the case. Excellent analysis and simplification of a tragic and callous case, Dr. Grande.

Sad. When I was very young, driving home late on the freeway, a man drove by and honked and pointed at my car, motioning for me to pull over. I started to cross lanes to the exit, but realized no one else was looking at my car and changed my mind. The man had almost exited but got back over, drove by me and looked at me with a horribly evil grin. I'll never forget it. Got home safely, nothing was wrong with my car. I'm glad I didn't fall for it.

This is pretty fascinating. I wasn’t familiar with this case, but you tell the story impeccably as always. Can’t wait to do a deep dive on this one. :)

Doc., I think you deserve a slot on t.v. An hour show. Short and precise.

I think the other issue is that young people actually often don't see risky things as risky. I definitely didn't.

Oh, I remember this. I'm from Australia and I can't think of anything worse than driving through kilometres of nothing in the heat! I'm not the adventurous type! Who knows what happened to Peter's body?

Thanks Dr. Grande for another video that shows off your automobile knowledge.

This case is right out of a horror movie and did inspire Wolf Creek. The press and defense did try to discredit Joanne. She was brave to come back to Australia and testify given what she'd been through. I remember she had to demonstrate how she moved her cuffed hands from behind her back to in front of her body. The defense thought it wasn't possible and she demonstrated it in two seconds. She is still doubted today. It took them years to test the cuffs for DNA and that would have helped Joanne's image in the press. I agree with you. The DNA transfer story isn't convincing and that was the best evidence in the case. The way she behaved with the press makes perfect sense.

Thank you for making your videos, Dr. Grande!

While we are in Australia, would you consider the Childers Backpacker Hostel Fire in 2000, a deliberately lit fire killing 16 people. Thank you Dr Grande.

Thank you, Dr. Grande for bringing us this video. This case has had me baffed for a long time..

Very interesting. Thank you for another good video, Grande. I do appreciate them all.

Impeccable timing as always.

Being a resident of dystopia -- sorry, Australia -- I have to speak with caution. there were a LOT of things that didn't add up. Most especially the female victim (Ms Lees) was hiding in scrub whilst the perp was searching for her with the aid of a Cattle Dog. The is NO WAY a person can hide from a Cattle Dog, no matter what the conditions are, day or night. Ms Lees had also struck up various friendships with some various persons during her stay in Darwin, a small city with some extremely unsavoury characters.

Hey Dr. Grande, good evening. Happy for another post…thanks.

What struck me was how much the man looked like the artist's impression of the attacker as he was being led in handcuffs, despite sporting a close cropped haircut and clean shaven appearance. I immediately thought that's the guy. Really enjoyed your analysis and you put me straight regarding Joanne's behaviour afterwards. People are complex and contradictory all the time. It was consistent he would try and drastically change his appearance after a crime of such magnitude with the coverage it was getting and such an accurate rendering of the suspect. Loved your dry quips regarding his DNA wanting to get away from a man with such a character as him.

Excellent. Your knowledge and analyses are incredible, but Your Wit is To Die For. On to the next one. 👌

Not gonna lie... You had me at "Hippie Van of Death".

What a scary case! Excellent analysis, Dr. Grande! ❤️

Really interesting. Great video doc

I LIVE for ur dry sarcasm...gives me life...

I have been waiting for you to do this one 🤠

I like your soft voice. I listen to you when I fall asleep. So calming. I like your videos tho too

I just want to say thank you so much I love your content and I admire your educational background I had a weird case of brain damage but they don't really understand why it happened it was it's due to injectable insulin and some sort of reaction I'm having to it and in the process of healing from this I've been sitting at home soaking up as much content as possible so thank you thank you for posting it's frequently as you do

The Press got suspicious about the dog not finding Joanna.

A great book to read on the case is ‘Dead Centre’. So many intriguing facts that really make you think about what happened or didn’t happen.

Another intriguing analysis. Thank you, Dr. Grande. ❤️

After your Spork post I listen for the humour as well as the analysis - thank you for another enlightening post.

Thanks mate,really enjoy your content👍

Having lived and worked in central Australia, I would suggest taking a suitable car if you have to drive it. As mentioned if being followed, don't stop on that highway. Regarding why they were travelling at night I believe this was to make it to a place called "the devils marbles" before sunrise to enjoy the sight at dawn. This was stated in one of the many documentaries. I always felt the story was changing by concealing information only the killer would have known. There are a lot of details coming out now that were not released in the media much earlier.

"Traveling in a fried-out Convy on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." -- Men At Work

Doctor Grande - you make me smile. your are too funny! and very knowledgeable. Love from California.

Thankyou for doing this one from Australia .

Well researched Dr Grande ! Thanks for your correct pronunciation of Melbourne too :) 👍

Sorry Australia is full of criminals, you could do a years worth of stories on us alone! Love to know your thoughts on the “Mr Cruel” case. Still not solved after more than thirty years…

Whenever "........ of Death" or "........of Doom" is in the title, you know it's going to be wild!

My thoughts exactly! Thank you Dr. Grande!

Wearing your green today Dr. Grande!! Good thinking!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Good Day Dr. Grande. Been busy. Catching up. I'm on a Dr. Grande Marathon. 👌

"Nobody can really blame his DNA from trying to get away from him" subtle but funny

Omg, I needed your soothing voice after my stressful day today, thank you. Talk about calming.🌞 You made a serious and concerning case somehow relaxing and tension releasing.. wouldn't have a bloody clue how you do that, but thank you 🤣. And thank you for pointing out the fact (what I've always considered obvious), that there's actually not a right or wrong way of having and showing feelings. I've recently moved away from someone who considered all thoughts, feelings and behaviour simply must be in line with their own expectations of such. I'm positive they're a narcissist of the dangerous variety, but I am now curious about this. I wonder if it's a strong indicator of a person having a narcissistic behavioral type and a strong red flag, or if many think along these lines who are otherwise very mentally stable?

Thank you for the video.

Love this, thanks~🌟

Happy St. Paddy's Day Doc! Hope it's a merry one

"not driving in the middle of nowhere at night" the question is: is the per capita violent crime rate higher or lower where there are few people?

So they were literally down under in a fried out kombi, and on a hippie trail head full of zombie?

A couple of things about driving at night in Australia. Road trains do the same and often on single lane black top which means pulling over onto Pindan to let them through. Roos can be a problem as can Brahma.bulls in that area. People drive at night because unless you are used to the glare and heat it’s much more comfortable. When out in the Bush it is always advisable to tell someone where you are going and phone ahead with a time of arrival. Even better call in at the police station. That way you can be legitimately missed. Never leave the car if you are stranded. And wherever you go always look back so you can recognise where you’ve been. It’s handy for retracing your steps. I know this doesn’t all necessarily apply if a murdering maniac is about but largely Australia is a friendly place and these rules as well as carrying plenty of water can save your life.

I guess for many "the killer" was almost too perfect a suspect and the cops were under pressure to find a killer. In one deposition Joanne had claimed that she went from the seat of the killer's car to the "back". This is impossible in the type of car that Bradley Murdoch was using.

ngl dr. Grande's voice is soo soothing I fell asleep while listening to this, beautiful voice sir

😀 well done and thank you. Sad story but told with wit and humor.

It’s possible that it was too hot to drive during the day. These vans are air cooled and the terrain has no shade. It may have been a conscious decision to drive at night, as it’s also more comfortable