Country-town connection in Maddie case
A new twist has been revealed in the Madeleine Pulver bomb-hoax extortion case.
7News reveals Madeleine’s father, Bill Pulver, and the suspect, Paul Douglas Peters, both have parents residing in the NSW country town of Tamworth – with their family homes less than 10 kilometres apart.
Speculation has been rife prominent businessman and lawyer Mr Peters has a connection with Mr Pulver.
Paul Douglas Peters was arrested in the United States, after a global manhunt involving the FBI, on charges relating to a fake collar bomb tied around schoolgirl Madeleine’s neck.
It is alleged he attached the device, along with a ransom note, to the 18-year-old in an apparent extortion attempt.
Locals in Tamworth told 7News Douglas Peters Senior settled in the area decades ago with his second wife, and set up a pilot services business after retiring as a commercial pilot.
He told 7News he is so upset about the charges against his son he could not speak publically.
The home of Mr Peters’ father is just a five-minute drive from Maddie's grandparents’ and Bill Pulver's childhood home, which was built by the family 40 years ago.
The Pulvers told 7News they have never met the Peters. In a small town such as Tamworth, it would be remarkable if their paths had never crossed, even unknowingly.
It is one of a string of fascinating coincidences between the lives of Paul Peters and Bill Pulver, who are both international businessmen with links to the US, Asia, Sydney and now Tamworth.
Paul Douglas Peters' lawyer confirmed after a brief hearing in the US District Court in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, his client was preparing to fight the charges.
