In 2003, a murder trial in Australia ended in a staggering way. While the prosecutors had all the necessary arguments against the suspect, the room was treated to a dramatic twist. They were in the middle of their presentation when a person from the audience stood up to make an amazing statement of the highest order ever seen… Not even on television.
1. A troubled youth
Young Australian Natasha Ryan had a difficult adolescence. She experienced and used several drugs, suffered from self-harm problems and was even suspended from school. In 1995, she ran away.
2. With the help of her boyfriend
Two days later, the authorities found her in a hotel. Her boyfriend, Scott Black, had helped her under the pretext that she was threatening suicide and that he was protecting her. Years later, on August 31, 1998, she disappeared again.
3. Hooky school
That morning, her mother had dropped her off at school, but the teenager never showed up for class. Once again, the authorities started looking for her, starting, of course, with Scott Black.
4. Missing
He said he hadn’t seen her. He was not the only one: no one had seen Natasha. The police launched a $400,000 investigation. More than 100 residents volunteered to participate in the research. But in vain.
5. A dangerous place
As the search continued, prosecutors began to fear what they would find. Four other women had been found dead in the area, including the young Keyra Steinhardt whose framed photo is shown above.
6. A stopover
The police finally arrested Leonard John Fraser for the murder of the other four girls. Fraser had spent 20 of the last 22 years in prison for crimes against women. The thought of ending his life in prison terrified him.
7. Confession
Fraser also confessed to Natasha’s murder. Her father, Robert Ryan, had to accept the confession. His little girl was dead.
8. A void for the family
On what would have been Natasha’s 17th birthday, 70 of her relatives released balloons into the sky to commemorate her life. At his second wedding, her father played a video of Natasha wearing a bridesmaid dress.
9. The court
Fraser faced the Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane. Witnesses claimed to have seen Natasha with Fraser before she disappeared. Then the police prosecutor made an announcement.
10. A disturbing announcement
On April 1th1, 2003, police prosecutor Paul Rutledge stood up in court and announced that Fraser was not guilty of Natasha’s murder. At this announcement, the girl’s father fainted.
11. An anonymous note
A few days earlier, the authorities had received an anonymous note. This one said Natasha Ryan was alive. The message included a phone number to reach her. The police used the number to identify the residence.
12. Well alive
On April 10th, police reported to a residence in Rockhampton. The house belonged to none other than Natasha’s long-time boyfriend, Scott Black. There, they found the young woman as described: alive.
13. Explanations
The authorities, the family and even the whole city wanted explanations. Natasha willingly offered them. For the past five years, she had lived with Scott, of her own free will, in a seaside house in Yeppoon, Queensland…
14. A vampire’s life
Natasha lived in hiding, with the curtains closed, out of sight. At night, she and Scott would go to the beach where she would enjoy the sand and sea in the dark.
15. The girl in the closet
When Scott received visitors, and police officers, Natasha hid in a closet, earning her the nickname “The Girl in the closet”. Eventually, she and Scott returned to Rockhampton, about 8 km from her grieving family.
16. A very strange situation
Twenty days after Paul Rutledge’s announcement in the middle of court, Natasha went to trial for her own murder. She testified that she had never met Fraser; the witnesses who claimed to have seen them together were wrong.
17. Guilty or not guilty
However, the jury decided that Fraser was guilty of the other murders, for which he was imprisoned for life. Natasha’s presence at the trial of her own murder turned into a worldwide sensation. But she paid the price.
18. Punished for their acts
The authorities sentenced Scott to three years in prison for perjury. After all, he had assured the police that he had no idea where Natasha was. Natasha was fined $1,000 for causing a false police investigation.
19. But why?
Natasha never gave a clear explanation. She simply said that confessing why she left would not make a real difference and that no matter what she could say would not be a good enough reason to justify the pain she caused her family.
20. A happy ending
In 2008, Natasha, 24, and Scott got married. They sold their wedding photos to Women’s Day magazine for $200,000. Until 2011, the couple lived without social media and raised three children. One thing is certain, there can be no doubt about the love they have for each other.
Source: Boredom Therapy
