‘Black widow’ killer admits to murdering partner following new ‘no body, no parole’ law
In an attempt to get out of jail under a new ‘no body, no parole’ law, notorious ‘black widow killer’ Patricia Byers has reportedly admitted to murdering her missing partner.
Byers murdered one partner and tried to kill another by shooting him in the head while he was sleeping according to News Corp.
The body of her first victim, Carel Gottgens, has never been located and now Byers is using a loophole in the law to get out of jail, 17 years after she was convicted of his brutal murder according to News Corp.
Byers, who currently is in a South Australian prison admitted to police during her confession that she hit her victim with a blunt object and he then fell into the Coomera River.
The stunning confession has come shortly after South Australia has introduced a 'no body, no parole' law.
A similar campaign is currently under way in Queensland by families of missing murder victims to bring the same law to the sunshine state.
The law was introduced by SA with the intention of reuniting grieving families with the bodies of their loved ones.
However according to Byers’ confession police were unable to locate Mr Gottgens’ body.
According to online reports investigators are understood to be skeptical of the shock confession.
Details given at the trial were that the blood -believed to be the victims - was located in the bedroom, leaving detectives to understand that he was attacked inside the house initially.
Gottgens was in a relationship with Byers for eight years before he mysteriously disappeared in 1990 as he prepared to leave her for another woman.
At the time of his disappearance Byers told his distressed family that he had run off.
Three years later, during a romantic weekend aboard a boat, Byers shot her then partner John Asquith, however she failed to kill him.
It was then that police began to suspect Gottgens may have been murdered by Byers.
Police later found evidence that Byers had forged a series of documents in a bid to obtain control of Gottgen’s assets including a luxury house and boat.
The original forensic examination of the couple’s bedroom revealed blood on the walls, however Byers denied killing him and claimed he was still alive.
Byers then used the same method on her second victim by forging Asquith’s signature to take out a sizeable life insurance policy with her as the sole beneficiary.
It’s understood that investigators flew from Queensland to SA to meet with Byers.
The 'black widow' murderer had used the same tactic on her second victim, forging Mr Asquith’s signature to take out a hefty life insurance policy with her as the beneficiary.
“We have conducted a search after she gave us some information. We did not find any remains and we have reported that back,” Homicide detective Acting Superintendent Damien Hansen said.
SA’s Correction Minister, Peter Malinauskas, could not discuss her parole application however it is understood she has been transferred to a facility to prepare for parole.
News break – June 24
